TEHACHAPI, Calif. -- The inquiries worried the city because there are no ordinances on the books regarding any type of marijuana-related business.

Tehachapi’s chief of police Jeff Kermode said the city was aware that they had no ordinances in place that would prohibit, permit or regulate any sort of marijuana-related business, but he said there was no need until last week.

Kermode said that if someone did apply for a license, the city would not have been able to regulate the shop, there would be no zoning requirements and even no criminal history background check.

The city knew they had to act fast to freeze anyone’s chances of applying for a business license for any sort of marijuana business before the city had an ordinance in place, so at Monday night's city council meeting, they passed a 45-day moratorium.

“That was the goal, to make sure that we froze the situation so that if we did decide to issue permits that we would have some guidelines to work from,” said Kermode.

During the 45-day moratorium, the city will have a chance to study the issue.

At the end of the 45 days, the police department will present city council with various options ranging from prohibiting marijuana-related businesses to permitting them but with detailed regulations.

The moratorium can be renewed if city council does not reach a decision, but Kermode said the goal is to pass an ordinance by the end of the 45 days.