Northern Calif. town bans medical marijuana collectives, cultivation; opponents threaten suit

Northern Calif. town bans medical marijuana shops

RED BLUFF, Calif. — A small Northern California city has banned medical marijuana growing and dispensing, a move opponents say will bring lawsuits.

Red Bluff’s city council approved two measures Tuesday night restricting the drug. The panel voted 4-1 to ban collectives and cultivation and unanimously passed an emergency ordinance to immediately prohibit dispensaries.

Most of the two dozen people who addressed the council argued against the ban, saying it would violate state law.

State Justice Department guidelines assert that doctor-certified patients have the right to grow medical marijuana and form collectives. But at least two recent state courts have determined that state medical marijuana laws do not necessarily pre-empt city zoning regulations.