More than 200 new laws will go into effect in Illinois come January 1^st.  A number of them could have an immediate or significant impact on residents’ lives, including in some areas where the maximum speed limit on interstate highways in Illinois will increase to 70 miles per hour.  Saint Clair County can opt out and keep the speed limit at 55 miles per hour.  Also tanning facilities may not permit anyone less than 18 years of age to use tanning equipment, regardless of whether the person has permission of a parent or guardian.  Illinois has become the 20^th state to legalize medical marijuana in a pilot project with some of the strictest standards in the nation, as of January.  However, it may take more than a year to actually purchase marijuana as separate state agencies draft rules that must be approved by a legislative committee.  Election year is almost here and 17-year olds may now vote in primaries if they will be 18 by the following general election.  Public school sex education courses offered to 6^th through 12^th graders must now cover contraception as well as abstinence.  It’s unclear how much the impact the new law will have, since many schools say they already teach both.  Parental rights will be stripped from men who conceived children through sexual assault.  And, it will be illegal for a school to ask for a student’s social networking password without proper cause.