The Sacramento City Council Law and Legislation Committee has given its approval to changing the city zoning law for growing medical marijuana.

If changes are approved by the Planning and Design Commission and by a vote of the full council, cultivation will be allowed in agricultural, commercial and industrial areas.

Growers are restricted to residential areas now.

Anthony Vasquez owns the 515 Broadway dispensary. He says the unanimous vote is a good step.

"I'm very pleased. It's a rough draft right now. They're under a timeline so they're kind of putting the cart before the horse, but they are working on it." 

The city must adjust its laws regarding medical marijuana to include commercial and industrial areas by March 1st of next year or the California Department of Food and Agriculture will be the sole licensing authority for the city.

Dispensaries that are licensed in the city will meet with the Community Development Department to finalize language for the new ordinance.

The planning commission will likely vote on the changes in January with a council vote following in February.