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Questions Remain After Sacramento City Council Legalizes Marijuana Cultivation

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — Questions remain after Sacramento City Council votes to legalize marijuana cultivation.

"I think we need to have a more measured approach," said council member Allen Warren.

Warren was one of three council members to vote against the marijuana cultivation ordinance.

"There were still some things that I thought could have been done a little better," said Warren.

Warren represents District 2. His concern under the ordinance passed last night is that cultivation businesses will fill up valuable retail space.

"I believe commercial corridors should be reserved for businesses that have foot traffic and retail application," said Warren.

"It sounds like we may be getting set up to be short changed," said Ross Hendrickx.

Hendrickx is the Del Paso Heights Neighborhood Association President.

He says his neighbors are not anti-marijuana but would like to see cultivation businesses in industrial settings and not street corners.

"Is it going to be weeks? Is it going to be months? I'm not really sure, but we're going to be keeping a close eye on it," said Hendrickx.

"I think it's an exciting time," said Corey Travis.

Cultivators and marijuana industry supporters were encouraged by the city council's decision.

"I think it's an important step in progressive regulations," said Travis.

Travis is the head of the Sacramento Cannabis Coalition. He says several hundred cultivators operating illegally in the city can now come out of the shadows.

"This stuff is being grown somewhere. We've been selling it in Sacramento for a long time," said Travis, "we need to allow people that want to be part of this industry in cultivation an opportunity to do it legitimately."

Travis says communities will still have a voice and can weigh in when a cultivation business tries to set up shop.

"Really, it's just a case by case bases and that's what the council said last night," he explained.

The council will continue working out the details of the ordinance. It's unclear when permits will be issued, but it likely won't happen before the end of the year.

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