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Oregon voters were deciding whether to legalize recreational marijuana use Tuesday.

A ballot measure to legalize recreational marijuana in Oregon held a sizable lead in incomplete returns Tuesday.

With half the estimated statewide vote counted, Measure 91 was ahead 56.1 percent to 43.9 percent. In Multnomah County, home to an estimated 20 percent of Oregon voters, support was even higher at 69 percent.

Oregon voters were deciding whether to follow the lead of Washington state and Colorado in setting up a system to allow and regulate sale of the drug. Earlier in the night, Washington, D.C. voters approved a measure allowing residents to possess and grow – but not sell -- marijuana. Alaska voters considered a similar measure Tuesday.

Oregon's Measure 91 took elements from both the Washington and Colorado laws and was primarily financed by out-of-state donors and groups seeking national reform of drug laws.

The measure, which would not take effect until July 1, 2015, would allow adults 21-and-over to possess 1 ounce in public and up to 8 ounces at home, as well as a variety of other marijuana-laced products.

The Oregon Liquor Control Commission would get the job of regulating marijuana production and sales. Tax revenue generated by marijuana would go to schools; mental health and addiction services; law enforcement; and the Oregon Health Authority. Using marijuana in public or while driving would be prohibited. Current medical marijuana laws wouldn't change.

Sponsors hoped the measure would be seen as having the needed regulatory controls that critics said was missing in the 2012 marijuana legalization measure defeated by voters.

Unlike the 2012 marijuana initiative, which was defeated by 6 percentage points, Measure 91 had a large advertising budget that featured, among others, a retired judge, a retired deputy sheriff and a former top drug addictions official for the state.

The campaign deliberately stayed away from any hints of the marijuana culture, even using colors in their signs that avoided any hint of green.

Sponsors argued that current prohibitions drove thousands of Oregonians into the black market, enriching drug cartels and driving up law enforcement costs.

"Our over-arching feeling was of wanting to move marijuana into a regulated environment as much as possible," said Anthony Johnson, the measure's chief sponsor.

While the Yes on 91 campaign raised about $4 million opponents collected less than $200,000 and largely had to rely on a word-of-mouth campaign.

The measure is "about creating a big marijuana industry," said Mandi Puckett, a drug education worker who headed the No on 91 campaign.

Opponents seized on the wide array of marijuana products -- ranging from pot-laced gummy bears to sugary sodas containing the drug – for sale in Colorado that they said were aimed at enticing youthful consumers.

Despite the mismatch in campaign resources, polls showed a close race as the two sides headed toward the election.

"It's really close," said Peter Zuckerman, spokesman for Yes on 91. "It all hinges on whether our voters show up."

Surveys show that younger voters are less likely than older voters to participate in non-presidential elections. That's why Measure 91 strategists put major resources into registering voters and trying to ensure that they would return their ballot by Tuesday's deadline.

-- Noelle Crombie & Jeff Mapes