DENVER - 7NEWS projects that President Barack Obama has won Colorado.

Obama was leading Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney 50 percent to 48 percent with 61 percent of the statewide vote counted.

Obama's Colorado victory was ensured as he won three bellwether counties -- Jefferson, Arapahoe and Larminer.

"So, far with between 65 to 70 percent of the vote counted in these three key counties, Obama health leads in all three," Burt Hubbard, editorial director of the I-News news service, said earlier Tuesday night. "This trends well for Obama winning the state of Colorado."

In Jefferson County, Obama was leading Romney 51 percent to 47 percent with 81 percent of the vote counted.

In Arapahoe County, Obama was leading 52 percent to 46 percent at 69 percent of the vote counted.

In Larimer County, Obama was leading  51 percent to 46 percent with 70 percent of the vote counted.

Meanwhile, Colorado voters approved a constitutional amendment legalizing recreational use of marijuana. Amendment 64 was leading 53 percent to 47 percent with nearly 60 percent of the vote counted.