In the wake of voter approval of Question 2 in Massachusetts, which decriminalized possession of up to one ounce of marijuana, government officials are trying to determine the next steps needed to implement the law, the Boston Herald reported Nov. 6.

Under the new law offenders caught with up to one ounce of marijuana are tagged with a civil infraction and a $100 fine; offenders under the age of 18 must also attend a drug awareness course and parental notification is required. Mass. Gov. Deval Patrick has directed officials to start planning for the measure and to decide whether a new government bureaucracy is needed to oversee the ticketing/fine payment process.

The law is expected to take effect in late December or January.

"Question 2's passage not only authorizes the decriminalization of small amounts of marijuana, but also establishes a parallel civil regulatory structure that does not currently exist," said Martha Coakley, the commonwealth's attorney general. Coakley added that officials are "reviewing all of the implications of the new law and whether further clarification or guidance is needed."

How much the new measure will cost is unknown; advocates say it will save money usually spent on marijuana arrests.

Law-enforcement officials who opposed the measure remain worried about its impact. “I’m really concerned about the effects the use of marijuana already has on the significant problem of motor vehicle impairment,” said Edward Davis, Boston police commissioner.