DENVER — Colorado has enacted statewide regulations for the medical marijuana industry which could potentially allow hundreds of dispensaries to continue operating.

Gov. Bill Ritter on Monday signed two bills passed by lawmakers this session to rein in the estimated 1,100 medical marijuana dispensaries that have cropped up around the state.

Both laws take effect immediately. One allows only doctors in good standing to recommend medical marijuana. The other sets up a uniform set of rules for marijuana dispensaries as well as growers and makers of marijuana-infused snacks preferred by some patients.

Regulators expect only about half of the existing dispensaries to be able to continue operating under the rules.

In his state of the state message in January, Ritter urged the industry to work with communities and law enforcement to come up with compromises that protect the public and patients using medical marijuana.