The Reno City Council shut down a proposal for a six-month moratorium on recreational marijuana establishments on Wednesday. 

Several industry leaders representing local medical marijuana establishments appeared at the council meeting to talk council members down from pursuing a moratorium as the state approaches its own summer deadline to begin an early start recreational marijuana program. 

"Neither the city of Sparks nor Washoe County have passed moratoriums, which means folks may head over to Sparks and (other dispensaries in) Washoe County for marijuana," said Joey Gilbert, a co-owner of Mynt Dispensary in downtown Reno. 

The moratorium would have temporarily stayed any applications from existing medical marijuana dispensaries, the only ones that will be allowed to operate under the state's early start program, meaning no Reno dispensaries would be able to take part in the program. 

The early start program, overseen by the Nevada Department of Taxation, is going to allow already licensed dispensaries to begin selling retail marijuana product to anyone aged 21 and over on July 1. 

The moratorium, proposed by the city Code Enforcement Manager Alex Woodley, would have afforded the city time to familiarize itself with state regulations developed by the Department of Taxation, he said. 

Members of the Reno City Council, however, were not too keen on the idea. 

"It sounded good in December, but it doesn't sound like a good idea at the end of April," said councilwoman Jenny Brekhus.

Brekhus' sentiments echoed those of Councilwoman Neoma Jardon, who expressed frustration that the moratorium's proposal was six months after she had made a similar proposal immediately after Nevadans voted to legalize recreational marijuana in November. 

"City, let's get on the front side of this," she said. 

The council rejected the moratorium proposal and instead asked the city's legislative operations program manager, Scott Gilles, to report back to the council on May 10 after the Department of Taxation finalizes the temporary regulations that will dictate the early start program through the end of the year. 

At that time, the council will consider implementing a moratorium on other items. Several times, the council noted that it may want to place a moratorium on applications from businesses to allow marijuana consumption on their properties, if a bill enabling cities to authorize such licenses is signed into law. 

Until then, the city will be preparing itself to educate the general public, which seems to be confused still about where they can consume marijuana products. 

"There's been no education on whether people could lose their housing (if they consume marijuana while in their housing). People don't know, and things can change on a dime," said Councilman Oscar Delgado. 

Gilles noted that -- during the early start program -- the cities' role in licensing and fees would be minimal and would not become substantial until permanent regulations are put into place no later than Jan. 1, 2018.

Councilman Paul McKenzie expressed some doubt that the city would be ready to enforce state regulations January, let alone July, considering how complex and "fluid" some of the recently proposed bills in the Legislature are. Some of them are in conflict with each other, and many of them have changed substantially since they first were drafted. 

"We may be in a position where we're developing a code that is conflict with regulations," McKenzie said. 

The permanent regulations are being separately developed by the Department based on the recommendations of Gov. Brian Sandoval's Marijuana Task Force and by legislation. The current Nevada Legislature session is scheduled to conclude by June 5.