After years of heated debates and political discourses, Americans seem to be holding their liberal values so high that the voters in Maine and Maryland approved the measures to permit same-sex marriages while Colorado and Washington became the first states to legalize recreational use of marijuana.

The proponents of gay-marriages celebrated the results and lauded the change of attitude of the general public to approve what had been already rejected by voters in more than 30 states in the past. "We made history here tonight and showed that voters can change their minds. That will serve as something of a signal to other states who have lost marriage fights before at ballot boxes. You can change those minds," said Matt McTighe, the campaign director of Mainers United for Marriage was quoted as saying to the Wall Street Journal.

With 73 percent of the votes counted, more than half of the people supported same-sex marriage in Maine and in Maryland (with 98 percent of votes counted), nearly 52 percent of voters said YES to approve the gay marriage measure. In other states including Minnesota and Washington, the result it too close to call until the voting is completed.

In what could set up a possible showdown with the federal authorities, two states - Colarado and Washington - have voted to legalize recreational use of marijuana. According to the system in Colorado, adults above 21 years of age can possess up to 1 ounce of marijuana or six marijuana plants for personal use.  

According to the initiative in Washington, anyone over 21 can now produce, possess and distribute the drug. The results have sparked a national debate on the issue once again and the supporters, with a renewed spirit, are now pushing the government to revoke marijuana prohibition nationwide. However, marijuana is still an illegal drug under federal law.

Voters in Oregon and Arkansas defeated a ballot measure that aimed to permit pot through state-licensed stores, legalize unlicensed growth and use of marijuana by adults.