BREAKING: L.A. City Council OKs Plan to Close Dispensaries, Drafting Plan to Keep Some Open, Contradicts Itself

In an attempt to clarify medical marijuana laws in Los Angeles, its city council is shuttering all registered dispensaries, but muddied the waters by also approving of a plan instructing the city's staff to allow 170 of the storefronts to remain open, the L.A. Times reports.

Confused? You aren't the only one.

The vote to close the pot shops was unanimous among the 14 city council members. Two or three person collectives which could grow and distribute marijuana amongst themselves are approved under the new measure, but pro-access advocates testified that it took years of training and at least $5,000 to cultivate medical grade cannabis.

The 726 dispensaries that registered with the city will be sent letters instructing them to close their doors. If they don't they'll face legal action. Unless they're one of the 170 that are allowed to remain open.

Councilman Jose Huizar, who called for the total dispensary ban, did not support the vote to leave 170 dispensaries intact. He promised the ban would be enforced — but he also acknowledged the city may not have the resources to shut down every dispensary in the city.