The San Jose City Council has enacted a temporary moratorium blocking the establishment of new tobacco shops throughout the city as officials draw up a long-term plan to regulate such businesses.

Councilmembers voted unanimously Tuesday to halt the issuance of new licenses for local tobacco businesses, including retailers, smoke shops and smoking lounges. The 45-day ban can be extended for up to two years, according to a city memo. It’s a response to complaints that some local shops have become avenues for the illicit sale of controlled substances, including to minors.

Councilmember Peter Ortiz, who introduced the moratorium, said these problems have taken a disproportionate toll on his own District 5, which encompasses the predominantly Latino neighborhoods of East San Jose. The distric

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