The Vancouver City Council voted 3-2 on Monday to expand the number of marijuana stores from nine to 12.

Earlier this year, the state Liquor and Cannabis Board increased the number of marijuana stores each jurisdiction is allowed.

The state’s Liquor and Cannabis Board increased the number of stores after a research consultant, BOTEC Analysis Corp., recommended the number of retail stores statewide needs to increase from 334 to 556 to meet demand. The move is meant to accommodate the state’s alignment of the medical marijuana market with the existing recreational market, with the expectation that medical pot users will be turning to retail pot shops for their marijuana supply.