NEW POT BUSINESSES BARRED WHILE CITY CONSIDERS RULES

The City Council voted Tuesday night to place a 45-day moratorium on
medicinal marijuana dispensaries in the city while officials explore
stricter regulations on the businesses.

Under the emergency ordinance, passed unanimously, no new dispensaries
will be permitted to open, and those businesses already open will be
prohibited from expanding.

"It's kind of a timeout," said Assistant City Manager Gus Vina.

City officials estimate roughly two dozen medicinal marijuana shops
are operating in Sacramento, but the exact number is unknown.

The number of dispensaries appears to have expanded in recent months
since the Obama administration said it would honor state law regarding
medicinal marijuana and cease raids on the facilities.

The use of marijuana for medicinal purposes is legal in California.

The ordinance also requires existing dispensaries to register with the
city within the next 30 days, giving officials a better idea of how
many of the businesses are operating in the city.