DENVER -- Colorado lawmakers have passed legislation to regulate medical marijuana dispensaries.

The House agreed to changes made in the Senate on Tuesday and readopted the bill by a vote of 46-19.

The bill now goes to Gov. Bill Ritter, who likely will sign it because it includes provisions he requested, including giving cities and counties the ability to ban dispensaries.

Individual caregivers would still be able to provide marijuana to up to five people wherever there's a ban.

Lawyers opposed to the bill say they're ready to sue the state if the bill becomes law partly because of the provision allowing local bans. They also object to excluding non-Colorado residents from opening dispensaries and dispensary application fees that they say are excessive.

It was a dramatic turn-around vote of 46-19, changing the path from Tuesday morning when lawmakers voted 33-32 to send the bill back to a conference committee, puting it in danger of dying.

Some of the discussion heard on the House floor before the final vote included: "We're allowing cities to ban them (dispensaries) without a vote of the people."

"Should we throw away all the work away after a year-and-a-half?"

"We must show leadership on this issue. This appears to be the best that we can do."

"What harm is there is going to conference committee?"

Rep. Tom Massey (R-Poncha Springs) worked hard to get house members to reconsider their decision.

"We're breaking new ground here, let's face it. There's always going to be things you don't like. If there are a thousand pieces you're going to find two or three you don't like," Massey said about the bill he co-sponsored with Democrat Sen. Chris Romer after discussions dating back to July.

"We thought we'd probably fast-track it but, you know, so much for political forecasting. Here we are on the second to last day and we got it done. Thank goodness!"