BISMARCK, N.D. — Caught off-guard by voters in this highly conservative state approving medical marijuana, North Dakota lawmakers said Monday that more time is needed to implement the law.

A rare House and Senate meeting was held to consider a proposal to delay the law until the end of July.

The so-called emergency measure is supported by both Republican and Democratic leaders, who said state health officials and law enforcement are scrambling to solve a number of issues, including allowable forms and potency of medical marijuana, and oversight of distributors.

‘‘It’s important to allow time to get this right,’’ Democratic Senate minority leader Joan Heckaman told lawmakers.

The delay measure is expected to pass this week in both chambers, each of which must approve it by a two-thirds vote. It is unclear whether GOP Governor Doug Burgum would sign it. A message left seeking comment was not immediately returned Monday.

A separate bill will be introduced next week that would suggest regulatory oversight, lawmakers said.

‘‘This in no way is to try to stop the process,’’ Republican Senate majority leader Rich Wardner said. ‘‘Nobody is playing games with this. Everybody respects the will of the people.’’

The so-called North Dakota Compassionate Care Act won 65 percent voter approval in November, surprising even proponents.

The law allows residents to possess up to 3 ounces of marijuana for medical purposes. It says those who qualify could obtain the drug from a state-licensed dispensary or grow a limited supply for personal use.

Anita Morgan of Fargo, who helped lead the effort to get the measure on the ballot, told lawmakers Monday that more than two dozen states already have comprehensive medical marijuana programs.

‘‘We needn’t reinvent the wheel,’’ she said.

North Dakota’s Health Department estimates medical marijuana will cost the state more than $3.5 million a year and a small army of workers to regulate.

The Republican-led Legislature rejected a more stringent bipartisan measure in 2015 to legalize medical marijuana after state law enforcement and health officials said doing so would be a threat to public health and safety.

Supporters of the measure at that time warned legislators that they would seek a voter initiative that probably would be less desirable to lawmakers.

In a separate development, a park in a posh section of Philadelphia banned people from sitting on walls near a fountain after neighbors complained the practice led to marijuana smoking.

The ban at Rittenhouse Square went into effect Thursday.

The park is public but managed by the nonprofit Friends of Rittenhouse. Jackie Whyte, a member of the group, said the decision was made ‘‘due to continuous vandalism and marijuana smoking.’’

The city decriminalized possession of small amounts of marijuana in 2014.

Mayor Jim Kenney took issue with a new rule, saying his attitude is: ‘‘Sit where you want.’’

Kenney, a Democrat, said in a Twitter post Saturday night that he was among those ‘‘frustrated’’ about the issue, saying ‘‘the government is very large and at times things just get by you.’’ But he concluded ‘‘Sit where you want’’ — a message accompanied with a ‘‘peace sign’’ emoji.

‘‘Along with my liberal view of park use, please don’t litter, or graffiti the walls or smoke weed so obviously that you scare olds my age,’’ the mayor said in a second Twitter post that was accompanied by a smiley-face icon.

The walls are popular places to sit at lunchtime, especially in warmer months as benches fill with office workers and area residents.

A Facebook group is organizing a Sittenhouse Lunch Time Sit-On on Tuesday to perch on walls in protest of the ban. The group notes ‘‘the forecast is 50 and sunny, perfect for wall-sitting.’’