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From marijuana to 'sexting': new laws set to take effect Jan. 1
In all, 45 states, the District of Columbia, Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico passed 31,005 new laws in 2010. Some of them will come into effect with the new year. Here is a sampling of some of the trends in lawmaking in 2010.
California didn't legalize marijuana, as this man wanted, but it did lessen the penalty for possession of an ounce or less. (Noah Berger/AP/file)
1. Marijuana
Starting Saturday, people caught in California with as much as an ounce of marijuana will be charged with an “infraction” – a penalty that is equivalent to a parking ticket. Previously, possession of an ounce of marijuana had been a misdemeanor, which unlike an infraction, can include jail time.
Meanwhile, in Illinois, synthetic marijuana, also known as K2, will be illegal.
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