Barring a federal challenge, Loveland residents will continue to legally possess and use small amounts of marijuana as a new state law provides.

But any local system for buying, selling, growing or distributing pot — or manufacturing products that contain it — likely will be stalled, according to a City Council consensus hatched during a Tuesday night study session.

Eight of nine councilors, with member John Fogle absent, directed City Attorney John Duval to redraft provisions of municipal law to reflect the legalization of possession and use of less than one ounce of marijuana by residents 21 and older.

But they also asked Duval for a resolution declaring a moratorium on retail sale and commercial cultivation of pot until councilors learn how Colorado’s legislature, and the U.S. Justice Department, will deal with voter-approved Amendment 64.

Duval suggested keeping a lid on any local commercial pot industry through Oct. 1.

“We’ll know well before that what the state is going to do and, I would hope, what the feds are going to do,” Duval said.

Voters in Colorado and Washington on Nov. 2 put the states at odds with federal law that makes marijuana a Schedule 1 controlled substance — just as heroin and cocaine are.

Loveland police chief Luke Hecker made the fact the centerpiece of his argument against provisions of the new law that would regulate and tax marijuana like alcohol.

“My recommendation as your police chief is not to allow retail distribution of marijuana,” Hecker told councilors. “I implore you to say ‘no.’ This amendment clearly allows you to make a wise decision.”

Provisions of the new law make possession and use legal statewide, but allow local communities to opt out of allowing licensed retailers and growers to operate within their jurisdictions.

Backers of Amendment 64 on the path to the ballot box said the law would generate taxes for schools, prevent thousands of prosecutions for possession, use and sale of small amounts of pot, and free law enforcement officers to concentrate on more daunting crimes.

But those arguments didn’t surface during the council discussion of how the city should chart its post-64 course.

Councilor Hugh McKean said that aside from the law’s provisions allowing retail sale, its other features presented enough of a problem for local communities.

“We’re creating kind of a culture of tolerance for something,” he said, adding that a “casual distribution system” made up of private users and home growers would inevitably lead to possession of pot by minors.

Councilor Joan Shaffer said she shared the concerns voiced by Hecker about the local-federal conflict, and that the outcome of a prior local election banning medical marijuana businesses should be heeded.

“Voters showed very clearly they were not ready for that,” Shaffer said.

“But the real issue is at the federal level. I’m disappointed in the outcome of the ‘war on drugs.’ We’ve spent a lot of money and not gotten very far.”

City Hall was outfitted for an overflow crowd at Tuesday’s session, with a television monitor and seating in the building’s lobby. But public interest was limited to fewer than 10 council chamber visitors.

Tom Hacker can be reached at 669-5050, ext. 521, or thacker@reporter-herald.com.