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The Longview City Council on Thursday extended its ban on recreational marijuana-related establishments for three months to prevent a gap between when current moratorium expires and marijuana zoning codes are adopted.

The council indicated it’s leaning toward approving the zoning codes at its next meeting Feb. 13. If it does, then the moratorium automatically will become moot, City Attorney Jim McNamara told the council.

It takes 30 days for a new ordinance to take effect. That means the recreational marijuana zoning regulations, if approved, would open the door for businesses involved in the cultivation, processing and retail sale of marijuana to set up in Longview around March 13 (if they obtain state licenses).

City staff originally had proposed a six-month moratorium to replace the one adopted in August that expires Feb. 8. However, Councilman Tom Hutchinson said that the time was too long for what the council wanted to accomplish — namely, to prevent a gap where no laws were in place, which would mean someone could set up a pot-related business in a place the City Council feels is unsuitable.

Other council members agreed.

“It is time to move forward with this,” Councilman Steve Moon said. “We’ve had six months of moratorium already.”