Late-Abortion Ban Loses in Maine

Maine voters on Tuesday defeated a ban on certain late-term abortions and approved a proposal to legalize medical marijuana.

With most of the precincts reporting, the anti-abortion proposal lost with 154,580 opposed and 126,116 in favor. The medical marijuana measure had 130,752 votes in favor to 82,666 opposed.

The referendum to ban what opponents of abortion call partial-birth abortion is similar to measures adopted in about 30 states, though the courts have barred or sharply restricted 20 states from enforcing them. With recent court decisions going both ways, the showdown seems headed for the U.S. Supreme Court.

The medicinal-marijuana referendum authorizes possession and use for specific medical conditions when patients are advised by a doctor that they might benefit from the drug. The list of qualifying ailments includes loss of appetite from AIDS or cancer treatments, and the effects of glaucoma and seizures. Voter approval means the legislation could take effect within 60 days.

Elsewhere, voters in Colorado approved a $2.3-billion bond issue for 28 statewide road improvements, including widening congested Interstate 25, which runs through Denver.