The Bakersfield City Council is waiting until the election is over to increase fines on illegal pot shops. Some council members believe Proposition 64 would stop police from rooting out dispensaries in the Oleander-Sunset area, but city attorney Ginny Gennaro cautioned at the Legislative and Litigation Committee meeting Monday that they don’t know how it will shake out and could actually help them close down the shops.

The council is thinking about imposing a $2,500 a day civil fine on the shops.

Prop 64 would allow adults 21 and over to use recreational marijuana.

Kelli Forsch