Denver City Council will continue rule-making around marijuana with a bill to be voted on next week that would limit the number of pot plants that can be grown in a dwelling.

The council would clarify the zoning laws for the city, allowing up to six marijuana plants per person for recreational use to be grown in a home but set a maximum of 12 plants per dwelling unit.

That plan has angered some in the marijuana community who say it could disproportionately affect veterans, extremely ill medical marijuana patients and communities with large groups of people such as students.

Councilwoman Jeanne Robb, who is sponsoring the legislation, said the bill is being pushed out of concerns for safety.

“The police are very worried about the home grows and the problems they could cause, fires, pesticide use, the mold, structural damage, children who might be living in these areas and THC on surface areas,” she said. “They really want to be able to go in and have law enforcement ability to enforce our zoning.”

Robb said police have stories of homes with dozens of plants, including an 87-year-old man with more than 400 plants in his backyard.

Amendment 64, supported by two-thirds of Denver voters in 2012, said adults could grow up to six plants. It also said the growing should be done in enclosed, locked spaces. It did not place a limit on the number of plants per residence.

Smart Colorado, a group that has been pushing for more conservative marijuana laws, wrote a letter to the council in October urging the 12-plant limit.

“This is critical in order to help mitigate the adverse public health and safety, and environmental problems this could bring to neighborhoods and children living in the area,” the letter said.

The first vote and a public hearing on the bill will be next Monday on the same day as the council will make a final vote on controversial consumption rules. The council during this week’s meeting gave initial approval to allow people to smoke marijuana anywhere on their properties, throwing out a provision that would have banned smoking in public view.

Jeremy P. Meyer: 303-954-1367, jpmeyer@denverpost.com or twitter.com/jpmeyerdpost