Council votes to ban medical marijuana dispensaries

The 13-1 vote prohibits the sale of medical marijuana in the city of L.A. although it does allow small groups of patients and caregivers to grow limited quantities of pot. The council also signed off on a proposal by City Councilman Paul Koretz that would study less restrictive ways of distributing medical marijuana. Under that approach, 182 dispensaries would be allowed to continue operating under certain conditions. That proposal must now go through a procedural review that could last several months. After the vote, several medical marijuana supporters angrily shouted at council members, but they soon left the chambers. The ban, which was spearheaded by Councilman Jose Huizar, seems to be a legal placeholder until the state Supreme Court clarifies the legal status of medical marijuana. Until then, however, it pretty much ends the often-lucrative dispensary business. They'll be shut down over the next couple of months.

Earlier: Council will consider medical marijuana ban in closed session