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Mountain View Bans Medical Marijuana Dispensaries

MOUNTAIN VIEW (KCBS) - The city council has voted to extend indefinitely its prohibition on medical marijuana clubs.

Council members opposed to the clubs noted that no city between San Jose and San Francisco allows dispensaries.

"This is just a moving target," said Councilwoman Margaret Abe-Koga.

"There's a lot that's still happening and we just need to wait it out a bit."

KCBS' Mike Colgan Reports:

Lawmakers on both sides expressed concern about the uncertain impact marijuana dispensaries would have on the city.

Abe-Koga said it would be better to wait for another city in Santa Clara County or San Mateo County to start licensing pot clubs and then learn from their experience.

Voters in San Jose approved a ballot measure to tax the roughly 100 dispensaries in that city.

Councilman Mike Kasperzak said he voted to allow the clubs because delaying action could turn medical marijuana into an election issue.

"I really have a lot of concerns about kicking this can down the road another year, or indefinitely," said Kasperzak.

Public comment ahead of the vote Tuesday was also divided. The measure to extend the ban indefinitely passed 4 – 3.

(© 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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