A permanent ban on medical-marijuana dispensaries in the city of Guadalupe is one step closer to becoming law.

On Tuesday, a unanimous City Council approved the introduction of an ordinance to prevent pot clinics from opening anywhere in the city.

The vote was 4-0 with Councilmembers John Lizalde, John Sabedra, Ariston Julian and Ginnie Ponce in favor. Mayor Lupe Alvarez was absent.

A second reading and approval is scheduled for the March 23 meeting.

It will become law 30 days later.

City Attorney David Fleishman said the ordinance is a statement on land use, not on state law regarding medical-marijuana dispensaries.

Shirley Boydston, the only speaker in the public hearing, encouraged the council to approve the ordinance.

At the moment, the city has no permanent regulations against pot clinics.

However, the council approved a moratorium, good for 45 days, in May. A month later, the council extended the prohibition for another 10 months and 15 days, with the possibility of a one-year extension after that.

The temporary ban is set to expire May 8, prompting the push for a permanent law.

The first temporary moratorium, approved May 12, came on the same day a former Guadalupe planning commissioner filed papers with the city to open a storefront pot clinic.

George Alvarez, a Guadalupe native now living in Santa Maria, said at the time that he was seeking to “help those who need it,” such as people suffering with cancer and said he was eager to work with the city and police to open a dispensary.

After Tuesday night’s council vote, Police Chief George Mitchell said his officers will enforce the ban because “It’s what the council wants to do.”

It is a crime under federal and state law to manufacture, distribute, dispense or possess marijuana, but the state of California makes an exception for the use of the drug for medical purposes with a doctor’s prescription.

Since California legalized medical-marijuana dispensaries in 1996, several that were established on the Central Coast have shut down after their operations were raided by law enforcement.

However, several Central Coast cities, including Santa Maria, Buellton, Arroyo Grande and Pismo Beach, have passed ordinances banning dispensaries within city limits.

Santa Barbara County, which has no existing prohibitions against dispensaries, also has a moratorium in place, and is seeking a permanent ordinance as well.