SEATTLE (AP) — The Metropolitan King County Council has imposed an emergency moratorium on pot businesses in unincorporated areas.

The Seattle Times reports council members voted 8-1 Monday for the four-month ban after hearing that residents were opposing the businesses and reports that businesses were clustering in certain less-affluent areas.

The emergency moratorium went into effect Monday. Council members say the emergency nature of the vote was necessary to avoid a flood of applications that could have come if they had notified the public ahead of time.

King County won't accept or issue any permits for marijuana businesses for the next four months. The council is required to hold a public hearing in the next 60 days to take public comment.

More From News Talk KIT