BOULDER, Colo. -- The Boulder City Council creates temporary regulations for medical marijuana dispensaries.

The council voted 4-2 to pass an emergency ordinance aimed at keeping medical marijuana dispensaries away from schools, clustering together or operating in neighborhoods, according to the Boulder Daily Camera newspaper.

The paper reported that the ordinance means that, through March 31, 2010, any dispensaries that want to open in Boulder may only do so if they are at least 500 feet away from schools or licensed daycare centers, are not within 500 feet of three or more other dispensaries and are not located in residential areas.

The rules do not apply to the 42 businesses that have already pulled sales-tax licenses with the city or the 21 or so dispensaries that applied for permits prior to Nov. 6, according to the newspaper.

The council did not order a moratorium on new dispensaries. Most of the leaders agreed that the city needs more time to study how marijuana dispensaries should be regulated in the long-term, and that short-term regulations are appropriate now.

Councilmember Susan Osborne told the paper the temporary rules give the city "some breathing room" to consider more comprehensive regulations.