Santa Clarita Mayor Cameron Smyth wants to “keep an open mind” while the city “hits the pause button” on marijuana to study potential regulations, he said Wednesday.

The City Council decided during the Jan. 25 meeting to extend an existing moratorium that bans the sale, cultivation and manufacturing of recreational or medicinal marijuana.

“I think we should keep an open mind about the nuances of this issue,” said Smyth. “It’s ‘not all or nothing.’ This is something (the council) should consider during the moratorium.”

The moratorium was put forth by the City Attorney’s Office in response to California voters passing Proposition 64, which legalized recreational pot in the state. The ordinance that was extended for 10 months and 15 days is intended to ‘hit the pause button’ on marijuana in Santa Clarita, to study what permanent measures are needed, according to city attorney Joe Montes.

The issues, according to Montes, are enforcement and access. The city does not have the authority to stop road access nor legal standing to enforce a medical marijuana delivery ban.

“One thing the city cannot do is prohibit the use of roads or transport of marijuana for medical purposes,” said Montes.

There are currently medical marijuana delivery operations available to Santa Clarita residents; however, those businesses are not licensed by Santa Clarita due to an ordinance passed in 2009. The end result is costing the city tax revenue while doing little to stop marijuana sales, which is the intent of the ordinance.

“Things like delivery services are already being done, residents are already receiving medical marijuana in this city,” said Smyth. “Why not take advantage of the tax revenue?”

The first three meeting requests after the mayor was elected in November, were by Santa Clarita residents involved with the marijuana industry. Smyth met with delivery service owners and manufacturers of marijuana concentrates.

The mayor emphasized that he did not support retail recreational or medical marijuana storefronts in Santa Clarita. Recreational shops will not open anywhere in California until January 2018 at the earliest, according to the city attorney.

“I think we should evolve our thinking of this issue,” said Smyth. “I am not saying we should have any retail of recreation or even medical facilities.”

States that have legalized marijuana are in a ‘grey area’ because they are defiant of federal law. Marijuana is currently a Schedule I drug according to the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), which means it is illegal and has no medical benefit.

“There is some uncertainty at the federal level,” said Smyth. “The new Attorney General, seems to have a history of being more aggressive on this issue than the current administration.”

The extension of the marijuana ban will last until December of this year. The council could decide to modify the moratorium or extend it until December 2018.