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The city of Lakewood could extend its moratorium on Amendment 64-related marijuana businesses through the end of 2014.

A temporary ban on marijuana retail stores, commercial grow operations, manufacturing and testing facilities is already on the books through Jan. 1, 2014.

At a study session Aug. 12, city staff recommended that the Lakewood City Council add another year to the ban to allow the city to see how things play out on both the state level and in neighboring communities such as Denver. The new moratorium would expire Jan. 1, 2015.

“This is not necessarily an issue where you need to be on the forefront,” City Attorney Tim Cox said.

The majority of council members Aug. 12 indicated support for the longer moratorium, which still must be approved by ordinance.

Under Amendment 64, local governments are allowed to set their own rules for recreational marijuana businesses, including banning them entirely within their borders. The first day retail pot stores can open anywhere is Jan. 1. The state has yet to finalize its regulations for the industry.

Cox said by pushing the moratorium out another year, Lakewood would also keep open the option of sending the business question to city voters in November 2014, the first time a vote is allowed under Amendment 64.

In November 2012, a majority of Lakewood voters — 56.2 percent to 43.8 percent — favored Amendment 64. The ballot measure decriminalized the possession of up to one ounce of marijuana for adults 21 and older and allowed for the creation of recreational marijuana businesses.

Lakewood already allows medical marijuana dispensaries — which are not affected by Amendment 64 — but no longer issues permits for new locations.

Mayor Bob Murphy said the longer moratorium should give Lakewood the flexibility to consider all available options.

“We have a tradition here of having a thoughtful, deliberate and transparent approach to very important issues, an approach that involves the input of as many community members as possible,” Murphy said.

But Ward 4 Councilman David Wiechman said the city should “opt out” now on any and all marijuana sales facilities.

“(Voters) might be fine with maybe going down to Denver, but my sense of the people is they do not want it here in Lakewood,” Wiechman said. “As long as we keep talking about it, we’re just running the clock.”