First States in the Nation to Approve Recreational Marijuana - Central Coast News KION/KCBA

(CBSNEWS) - The 2012 election broke new ground on the controversial issues of same-sex marriage and recreational marijuana use, with voters in some states voting in favor of both of them.

Colorado and Washington on Tuesday became the first states in the nation to approve of recreational marijuana. Early Wednesday morning, a third ballot measure to legalize marijuana appeared set to fail in Oregon.

In Colorado, Amendment 64 legalizes the possession of up to an ounce of marijuana for adults ages 21 and older. It also requires the state to tax and regulate the sales of the substance. Washington state's Initiative 502 also legalizes, regulates and taxes marijuana.

Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-57546156/marijuana-same-sex-marriage-initiatives-are-winners/?tag=cbsnewsHardNewsFDArea;fdmodule