Photo used under a Creative Commons license with JosephAdams.

The D.C. Council voted today to limit the number of medical marijuana cultivation centers in Ward 5 to six, possibly throwing another wrench in the works of a program that has already been slow to get off the ground.

The vote came at the behest of Councilmember Vincent Orange (D-At Large), who initially proposed that no more than five cultivation centers be allowed in Ward 5. During the debate, though, he agreed to an amendment put forth by Councilmember David Catania (I-At Large) increasing the limit to six per any ward and limiting the number of dispensaries to one for any ward that has five or more cultivation centers.

Orange pushed the new limits after hearing a number of complaints at a community hearing in Ward 5 last week; before he resigned, Harry Thomas, Jr. had said that he was planning on some sort of new limits on cultivation centers and dispensaries in his ward. Since initial applications for cultivation centers were found to have clustered largely in Ward 5, residents have complained loudly that they are again being used as a dumping ground for things that no one else in the city wants.

In a letter to the council, Mayor Vince Gray expressed his opposition to any new limits on cultivation centers and dispensaries, saying that it would “further delay implementation of this important program which is necessary to assist individuals who suffer with chronic debilitating pain.” During the council debate, Councilmember Phil Mendelson (D-At Large) similarly expressed concerns that any further restrictions would make the broader medical marijuana program unworkable.

Moving forward, it is unclear how the council’s move will affect the status of applications for licenses to run both cultivation centers and dispensaries. All applications have been submitted to the D.C. Department of Health and are currently being considered by a six-person panel; last week, seven cultivation centers were sent to ANCs for their input. But with the council’s new limits, it looks like applications will have to be amended. The only cultivation center applications outside of Ward 5 were for wards 7 and 8 — each got one application — meaning that if Ward 5 gets the six it is allowed, only eight of the program’s planned 10 centers will be able to open.

Today’s debate also came at the 11th hour, as some councilmembers noted. The rules governing the District’s medical marijuana program have existed since August 2010, and the possible location of cultivation centers based on zoning restrictions have never been much of a secret. City officials have hoped to have the program fully functional this summer, but today’s vote could again push that back.

We’ve reached out to the Department of Health for comment, and we’ll update once we hear back.