A mistake in drafting new state regulations for medical marijuana in California has cities and counties scrambling to ban or restrict dispensaries before a March 1 deadline, after which, they fear, more lax state rules may apply.

Assemblyman Jim Wood (D-Healdsburg), an author of legislation setting new rules for the industry, said the deadline was inserted in the bill in error and he plans emergency legislation next month to remove it from the law.

So far, medical cannabis dispensaries have been banned in recent weeks in 19 cities, including Antioch, Artesia, La Cañada Flintridge, Newport Beach, Palm Desert and Pasadena. Dozens of the other 463 cities in the state are considering new bans or restrictions, creating panic among those who support medical marijuana. [Read more at the Los Angeles Times]