SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — Marijuana dispensary owners marched to the Sacramento City Council meeting Tuesday night, trying to get answers about the future.

The city stopped accepting license applications for new dispensaries last week.

“And I’d encourage you guys to push back at the federal government in order for us to keep our dispensaries open,” one person asked of the council.

That push back comes on the heels of the U.S. Attorney’s Office announcing a federal crackdown on medical marijuana dispensaries and a court ruling stating federal law trumps city ordinances. Pot shop owners say not so fast.

“This is a violation of our rights without a trial,” one dispensary operator said.

And they say it’s hurting their businesses. Thirty pot dispensaries in the city are waiting for approval. With the city announcing a freeze on that process because of the federal crackdown, more than a few are in limbo, including patients.

“Understand that the patients who live in the city won’t have any place to get their medicines,” warned one pot advocate.

Some also warned the medicinal pot buying would go underground, leading to other problems.

This debate would not lead to action for now — just words of warning and a plea.

“We’re hoping that you stay steadfast and step up to the plate just as you did once before for the patients,” one person said.

Tuesday night’s push at City Hall comes just hours after medical marijuana supporters in San Francisco announced a plan to get a ballot initiative in 2012 turning pot shop regulation over to the state.