In November, California voters approved Proposition 64, legalizing the sale, use and cultivation of recreational marijuana. The law allows for local governments to regulate cannabis in their jurisdiction, according to city officials.

The City Council decided to pass a memorandum calling for temporary restrictions on marijuana during the Dec. 13 regular meeting, while they evaluate options for permanent regulation.

The memorandum noted “Marijuana cultivation is associated with illegal construction, haphazard and unsafe electrical wiring, electricity theft, fires, mold and fungus problems, diversion of public water, pollution of waterways and excessive water use.”

This “emergency ordinance” will ban the manufacturing, distribution and retail sale of recreational pot within city limits. Non-medical marijuana delivery services will also be prohibited.

The city already bans the manufacture and retail over-the-counter sale of medical marijuana. Medical marijuana delivery services currently operate within city limits.

Personal cultivation will be limited to six plants under Prop 64. The plants must be grown in a private residence with written consent from the property owner. The structure must be fully enclosed and secured against unauthorized entry. The personal grows also have to abide by health and safety regulations.

City officials learned Tuesday the law allows local jurisdictions to ban private outdoor marijuana cultivation, but not the complete ban private indoor cultivation of six marijuana plants or less, according to the city attorney.

“I was so very, very disappointed that the voters passed Proposition 64… the action being proposed here, is the best that we can do to protect this community,” said Councilmember Bob Kellar during the Dec. 13 meeting.

The ordinance will be in effect for 45 days from the City Council meeting Dec. 13. After providing notice and holding a public hearing, the council may extend it for 10 months and 15 days.

Proposition 64 allows individuals over the age of 21 to possess, use and cultivate recreational marijuana in certain amounts. An individual may possess up to 28.5 grams of non-concentrated marijuana or eight grams of marijuana in a concentrated form.

Federally, marijuana is still considered a Schedule I narcotic, making it illegal to possess on federal property; however, as an enforcement priority, the drug has been largely ignored by the Obama administration.

The Drug Enforcement Agency also recently declared certain extracts of marijuana, including CBD, Schedule I drugs. This new rule does not create any new substantive regulation or law regarding the legal status of marijuana or marijuana extract. Instead, it creates a new tracking code number for “Marihuana Extracts,” according to the DEA.

Under the proposition, the California Department of Consumer Affairs, Department of Food and

Agriculture, and Department of Public Health are responsible for issuing state licenses to

commercial recreational marijuana businesses.

Based on the latest information from the state, these agencies will not be ready to issue any state marijuana licenses until January 2018.