New Laws Take Effect In Texas
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AUSTIN (CBSDFW/AP) - Texas is taking its first step toward easing limits on medical marijuana -- even as it imposes bans on synthetic forms of the drug.
A measure allowing some epilepsy patients to get low-THC cannabis oil, Texas' first concession on medical marijuana, is one of nearly 700 new laws taking effect Tuesday.
Also kicking in are laws strengthening restrictions on synthetic marijuana.
So are laws scrapping criminal penalties for skipping school and ending the "pick-a-pal" grand jury system, which critics said created conflicts of interest.
Elected officials accused of ethics crimes will now be tried in their home counties and "revenge porn," or posting explicit pictures of ex-lovers online, becomes a crime.
A peace officer must now get a search warrant before conducting a body cavity search during a traffic stop and Mental health professionals can have their student loans erased if they spend time treating people in prison.
Also newly criminalized is using a drone on Capitol grounds.
Texans can now use concealed-handgun licenses as valid IDs.
The state has created a special team to oversee the prosecution of crimes along the Texas-Mexico border, including a new state law against helping someone to sneak someone across the Mexican border into Texas.
Also on the immigration front - for the first time - state agencies will have to verify that job candidates are U.S. citizens before they can hire them.
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