LIVERMORE  (AP) — The Livermore City Council has passed a temporary ban on commercial marijuana cultivation while it looks into the issue further.

The Contra Costa times reports  that on Monday the council passed an 18-month ban, precipitated by recent state legislation that turns over control of marijuana policy to the state in any city that does not have regulations in place by March.

The law does not affect personal cultivation for those who have state medical marijuana cards.

Livermore councilmembers say the 18-month ban is pre-emptive, and does not prohibit them from examining the issue again before that time period is up.