The days are dwindling down to a precious few, but not to worry.

Former Mayor Andy Weissman is confident that the City Council will beat the deadline and approve specific regulations before Jan. 1 regarding legalization of marijuana as a business.

This would obviate the need to adhere to state regulations, which are likelier to be more liberal.

A close observer of City Hall before, during and after his two terms on the Council, Mr. Weissman said the Council is quite conscious of the marijuana deadline calendar.

“They always have known they need to have something in place (before January),” he said, “to avoid being governed by rules that come out of Sacramento.”

With 100 days separating Culver City and other California communities from the presumed statewide New Year’s implementation date, clarity is scarce within and outside of the cannabis world.

Mr. Weissman noted that while the City Council presently is pondering a plan that would restrict the number of retail businesses to 4 to 6, state law might allow an unlimited number.

At this moment, the Council is divided.

Mayor Jeff Cooper and Meghan Sahli-Wells, Council representatives on the Marijuana Task Force that meets monthly, favor allowing storefront retailers.

While the Task Force has endorsed the concept of 6 retailers, Mr. Cooper and Ms. Sahli-Wells prefer a maximum of 4.

Members Goran Eriksson and Jim Clarke hold that retail sales are unnecessary.

Vice Mayor Thomas Small is withholding a stance until he gains more information, which is expected at next Monday’s 7 o’clock meeting in Council Chambers.

Meanwhile, certitude clouds are heavy over the cannabis industry – among veterans and newcomers. Precise shapes of new laws are unclear. They range  between limbo and outer space, say officials.