A proposed law would force some California cities to allow marijuana retailers, even if elected leaders in those cities are against the idea.
State Assemblyman Phil Ting said he believes cities should have pot shops if most of their voters approved statewide marijuana legalization. He added that city officials who reject cannabis sales are only helping black market pot dealers.
Ting has introduced a bill which would require cities with more than 10-thousand people to issue marijuana permits if most of the voters approved Proposition 64.
Critics are accusing the assemblyman of a power grab that robs cities of local control.
Ting noted that cities could avoid the requirement should his bill pass, but only if their voters specifically ban pot sales.