Local governments all over California have been approaching the impending legalization of recreational marijuana in different ways, many of them reflecting the reticence of elected leaders to embrace something they’ve spent so many years fighting. While City of Redding staff crafts an ordinance and tax structure that’s to the city council’s liking, the council is likely to approve the extension of a temporary total ban on all retail cannabis activity in city limits. At their last meeting the council generally moved toward allowing dispensary businesses, but first they want City Attorney Barry Dewalt and other staff to show them a complete set of regulations. The moratorium extension to be voted on at Tuesday’s meeting would extend until next December, or until the council decides to lift it. Following the passage of Proposition 64 by voters last year, municipalities can begin to allow – or ban – retail marijuana businesses. The state will begin issuing permits in January. What local governments cannot prevent is the measure’s allowance for anyone in the state to grow up to six plants in their home for personal use. Most Northstate city and county governments have been very resistant to marijuana decriminalization, a trend that the City of Shasta Lake has seen as an opportunity to become a leader in the commercial cannabis industry. Their taxes and fees on cannabis cultivation and production are starting out intentionally low to attract large cannabis operations. In Shasta Lake, the initial tax for commercial cultivation is just $1 per square foot.