The Detroit City Council Tuesday approved a set of licensing regulations for the city’s booming medical marijuana industry. A separate set of zoning rules about where the pot shops can operate in the city is still being discussed.

Councilman James Tate said it’s the city’s responsibility to address residents’ concerns about the marijuana dispensaries. He said the licensing rules allow people to receive their medicine.

“Right now, there’s no ordinance to allow for these places to exist,” Tate said. “That compassion is there…because it allows these facilities to exist.”

The council voted 6-1 to approve the licensing rules. The ordinance won’t take effect until the zoning portion of the marijuana regulations is decided.

Under the licensing ordinance, existing medical marijuana shops would have to get a license or be shut down. There are about 150 in the city now. Operators of the shops would be subject to a police background check and drive-through service would be prohibited. The ordinance also sets an inspection process. [Read more at the Detroit Free Press]