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IRON MOUNTAIN -- The Iron Mountain City Council took action Monday night to prevent more smoke shops from opening in the city.

Officials say it's a concern because a smoke shop in town has been legally selling a substance known as spice, a synthetic form of marijuana.

The city of Iron Mountain has a first draft of a permanent zoning ordinance that would prohibit the opening of smoke shops within designated zones, such as close to schools and day cares.

There is already a moratorium in place to prohibit the opening of any new smoke shops, but that's only a temporary measure.

It's taken so long to draft this ordinance because the language must be constitutionally correct.

“It's a problem that's been going on in the city for some time, and it's a problem that we need to take care of, but we have to do it right so that's what we're trying to do right now,” says city attorney Gerald Pirkola.

The city council is hoping that if Senate Bill 789 passes, then it will make writing the ordinance easier.  Bill 789 deals with the sale of synthetic "designer drugs."