CA Cities Likely to Keep Right to Ban Pot Shops - Central Coast News KION/KCBA

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. -- California cities appear likely to retain the power to ban medical marijuana dispensaries despite objections from medical pot advocates who argue such restrictions undermine the state law allowing the use of cannabis for medical reasons.

During a hearing Tuesday in San Francisco, the California Supreme Court appeared inclined to allow cities to ban medical marijuana dispensaries in a case that has sweeping ramifications for local governments across the state and in the Bay Area, where dozens of cities have enacted dispensary bans.

The dispensaries argue local governments cannot ban what California law allows, but the Supreme Court appeared unready to embrace that position.

Most of the justices were openly skeptical of the arguments of a dispensary that challenged Riverside's right to ban medical pot providers.

The justices appeared particularly troubled that the 1996 voter-approved law allowing medical marijuana use, and later legislative revisions, did not expressly bar local governments from banning dispensaries.