Newport City Councilors have voted to place a moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries. Earlier this year, state lawmakers agreed to allow cities to regulate dispensaries and enact temporary moratorium in order to prepare.
At a meeting Monday night, Councilors heard from local residents opposing any delay. Carla Williams is trying to open a dispensary in Newport to help people like her son.
Williams: "My son was in an accident and he has a traumatic brain injury. It was one of the only medicines they found that could help his seizure activity in his brain... I decided this is something I wanted to do to help our community, and I wanted to be what I considered an upstanding citizen doing this."
Despite testimony, Councilors approved a moratorium lasting until May 1, 2015. Councilors asked the city's Planning Commission to work with the community to develop regulations.
