Under fire from the U.S. Department of Justice over its marijuana cultivation plans, the Oakland City Council voted just a moment ago to suspend the process for permitting four enormous marijuana-growing operations. Oakland City Attorney John Russo had warned the City Council repeatedly that federal law enforcement officials were skeptical of the city’s plans because they appeared to be in violation of state and federal laws. Reporting from a closed-door meeting with the city attorney, the council announced that it would put plans for permitting the growing operations as well as four more medical pot dispensaries on hold while fixes were made to bring it in line with state law.

It seemed clear that the city was worried about moving forward when it was revealed Monday in response to a public records request by The Bay Citizen that no applications had been submitted by Oakland’s many pot entrepreneurs just two days before they were supposed to be due on Dec. 22. The City Council will come back to the issue on Feb. 1 after changes have been made. More details later.