Mendota City Council passes marijuana ordinance allowing limited indoor cultivation

MENDOTA, Calif. (KFSN) -- Even before the City Council narrowly approved marijuana cultivation in Mendota-- interested companies were already circling in.

Tim McGraw, the CEO of Canna-Hub, said, "This is going to have a huge impact on the city and we're excited to get started."

McGraw is the CEO of Cana-Hub, a real estate company that builds and then leases space for marijuana growth. He has his sights set on the Silver Creek Packing House and was in town to persuade the town to welcome him in.

"The amount of economic impact and the amount of jobs that it creates is so beneficial to this town that anybody that pushing against it would just be kinda pushing against progress."

The city began considering the pot industry while searching for funding to support the police department. Under this ordinance the city will be paid based on the total amount of area growers' use.

One Mendota resident said, "If we don't do this right the first time, Mr. McGraw is going to come and go to another town, 'you know what Mendota didn't want to work with us and keep passing us by,' and we're just gonna be the cantaloupe center of the world which was back then."

But some were still apprehensive-- including Council Member Victor Martinez who believes more research needs to be done.

"We still have to study different venues, how are you going to collect revenue. Still different issues, for example in regards to being illegal federally."

In the end, council members voted three to two-- a second reading will be held in two weeks.