The ante in the legal battle over Los Angeles' pot dispensaries escalated when Medical marijuana advocates sued the city on Tuesday, stating that the "recently adopted ordinance is so restrictive it will cause even law-abiding businesses to shut down". The law caps the number of dispensaries in Los Angeles at 70.

Americans for Safe Access filed the lawsuit along with the Venice Beach Care Center and Pure Life Alternative Wellness Center; two dispensaries that have operated in Los Angeles since 2006, before the city's ban on dispensaries took effect.

Yamileth Bolanos, the head of a group of collectives and operator of the PureLife Alternative Wellness Center, said, "We want to work with the city to comply with its regulations, but such unreasonable requirements make compliance impossible".

In a statement by an official in the city attorney's, he stated that he had "not reviewed the lawsuit and could not comment on specifics but that its filing could be premature because the law hasn't taken effect".

"We'll be prepared to respond in the court", said William W. Carter, the city attorney's chief deputy.

"Regardless of this lawsuit, the city attorney's office will continue to enforce existing local and state law. This lawsuit does not affect our long-standing and ongoing enforcement efforts".