Vegas puts 6-month hold on marijuana dispensaries

LAS VEGAS — The City of Las Vegas is putting a six-month moratorium on newly legal medical marijuana dispensaries.

The City Council voted unanimously Wednesday to put a hold on land use, building permit or business license application for dispensaries. City leaders say they need time to update city code and adjust to state regulations that are still being written.

Voters decided to legalize medical marijuana in Nevada in 2000, but it wasn’t until this June that a state law cleared the way for dispensaries. Patients have had to grow small amounts of marijuana themselves.

The city’s six-month delay rankled some medical marijuana advocates, who say they feel the city is dragging its feet.

Council members said the process of bringing in dispensaries is complicated and asked residents for patience.