By DAVID SHARP

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) - Maine's gay marriage law has taken effect, and some couples took advantage of it right away.

 

The law went into effect Saturday a minute after midnight, and some cities and towns held special hours to issue marriage licenses, with some granted in the wee hours of the day.

 

Portland, the largest city in the state, opened at midnight to accommodate couples who didn't want to wait to get married.

 

Other communities including Bangor, Brunswick and Augusta were holding special Saturday hours.

 

Voters approved gay marriage in November, making Maine and two other states the first to do so by popular vote. The law already is in effect in Washington state; Maryland's takes effect Tuesday.

 

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