The elections for the Senate and the House of Representatives were accompanied by a plethora of referenda in many states.

In at least four states, voters backed the medical use of marijuana.

Nevada passed a constitutional amendment approving the medical use of marijuana.

However, regulations governing how it should be prescribed and distributed will not be set up until another vote is taken in the year 2000.

Around 59% of voters voted for the use of the drug for the seriously ill, including Aids, multiple sclerosis and cancer patients.

Conflict

Opponents argue that it will increase illegal drug use and conflicts with federal laws making possession of marijuana illegal.

The state's Attorney General is one of the opponents and says the result of the vote shows the need for new alternatives to pain management to be developed.

Washington, Oregon and Alaska also approved the prescribing of marijuana for medical reasons.

Arizona voters said yes to the proposal, which they had previously backed in 1996.

The state legislature had tried to dismantle it, prompting another vote.

The 1996 proposal allows doctors to prescribe all Schedule 1 drugs, including marijuana, heroin and LSD.

It also states that non-violent offenders should not be jailed for possessing drugs and promotes treatment instead of prison for drug offenders.

California and Arizona were the first US states to approve the medical use of marijuana in 1996, amid much protest.

Abortion

Other health measures voted on US Election Day included abortion and physician-assisted suicide.

Washington and Colorado, voters overturned bans on late-term abortions which opponents have labelled "partial-birth abortions".

In this, the foetus is partially delivered vaginally and then destroyed.

However, the situation on late-term abortions was left up in the air after a Wisconsin appeals court threw out the law on which the bans were modelled on Tuesday, saying it was too vaguely worded.

Colorado also passed a measure requiring parental consent for women under 18 to have abortions.