Washington state has put into effect two news laws today with major national significance. As of midnight today, possession of up to one ounce of marijuana is now legal in Washington following the approval of a state ballot initiative last month. In enacting the measure, Washington is the first U.S. state to decriminalize recreational marijuana use and the first to do so anywhere by popular vote. Meanwhile, same-sex marriage is also now legal in Washington as of midnight, after also having been approved by voters on Election Day one month ago.