With fewer than two weeks left before recreational marijuana businesses can start to open in California, the city of Long Beach has enacted a temporary ban on all adult-use cannabis operations.

The 180-day moratorium, approved by council Tuesday, aims to give city staff time to craft local policy recommendations that would allow recreational marijuana businesses to open in the city. The council voted 5-3 in November to make room for the recreational industry in Long Beach.

The decision comes as the first of 32 medical marijuana dispensaries begin to open up shop, following the passage of voter initiative Measure MM last November that repealed a local ban on such businesses.

It was during that same election that a similar initiative at the statewide level, Proposition 64, the Adult Use of Marijuana Act, legalized recreational marijuana. The state was given one year to create regulations, which were rolled out earlier this month.

California will begin issuing permits for such businesses on Jan. 1, but because the law allows local jurisdictions to craft their own policies, the 180-day ban will protect the city from any legal challenges should a business attempt to open up under state law, offiicals said.

Local policy recommendations are expected back before the council by June.