The City Council will get a report from city staffers on Monday, Dec. 18, detailing research about allowing commercial cannabis distribution facilities in La Habra, potentially paving the way for an ordinance to go before the Planning Commission early next year.

In October, the council placed a moratorium on recreational- and medical-marijuana businesses in town, but asked staff to look into permitting warehouse and distribution businesses, testing and quality-assurance labs, and delivery services.

They have also asked staff to look into what medical marijuana dispensaries entail.

Staff members have prepared a sample ordinance for the council, recommending it cap the number of distribution facilities in La Habra at two.

In March, city staffers expect to have reports ready on having testing facilities, and in June on medical-marijuana dispensaries.

If the council wants to proceed with allowing distribution facilities, a Planning Commission hearing could be held in January and council hearings in February.

In November, California voters legalized recreational marijuana – pot for medicinal purposes had been allowed for years.

The new state law allows the use or possession of up to an ounce of pot by people 21 years of age and older.

In January, the state is expected to issue its first licenses for marijuana businesses. But first, cities can set their own regulations; most Orange County cities have placed moratoriums or straight-out bans on marijuana businesses.

Santa Ana voters in 2014 supported permitting up to 20 medical marijuana dispensaries in that city and city officials have said they plan to extend laws to include recreational sales. Costa Mesa is the only Orange County city to allow manufacturing and testing of medical marijuana products.