A Los Angeles City Council committee Tuesday began considering a proposed permanent ordinance to require the immediate closure of hundreds of medical marijuana dispensaries that operate for profit.

The City Council's Planning and Land Use Committee heard presentations from the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office, L.A. County District Attorney's Office and Los Angeles Police Department, but decided to hold more hearings.

The proposed ordinance allows the operation of medical marijuana collectives, which are groups of qualified patients, and primary caregivers who cultivate medical marijuana solely for the qualified patients.

Under the proposed ordinance, collectives must be at least 1,000 feet from other collectives, schools, playgrounds, child care facilities, religious institutions, public libraries, public parks, hospitals and rehab centers.

Collectives would also be limited to giving their members medical marijuana only between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. They cannot have more than five pounds of dried marijuana nor have more than 100 plants on their property at any time.

Before collectives can begin operating, their location will be inspected by Department of Building and Safety officials to ensure compliance with the ordinance.

Once the collectives are in place, they are required to document each member's participation in the medical marijuana cultivation, and provide an accounting of their expenses.

Collectives that began operating before Sept. 14, 2007, and registered with the City Clerk's Office before Nov. 12, 2007, will be given 90 days to comply once the ordinance takes effect.

Collectives that began operating after that time frame are required to comply immediately, or be shut down.

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