Clovis City Council takes action to ban sale of marijuana in city ahead of Prop 64 vote

CLOVIS, Calif. (KFSN) -- They call it the new gold rush, supporters of Prop 64 said it's on the brink of taking California-- but in Clovis families want no part.

"It's still going to be a problem. I still see it as a black cloud over the Central Valley," said Jonathan Skogsberg, Clovis resident.

The legalization of recreational marijuana is on the ballot this November. So far, polls show a majority of voters support it, Cut Clovis city leaders said allowing the drug to be sold here would be disastrous. On Monday, they voted unanimously to make sure it doesn't happen.

"The talk that it's great for tax dollars, it's not there. The reports show it's bad for communities," said Matthew Basgall, Clovis Chief of Police.

Supporters said legalization would protect civil liberties preventing people from being jailed for possession. but Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims said that's simply not true

"You can't even go to jail, all you get is a citation for that small amount. So that's not an accurate argument."

In addition to banning the commercial sale, the Clovis City Council also established strict guidelines for personal use if the proposition passes. At home growers would be constrained to a certain space with ventilation.

"We know that marijuana is a gateway drug, we know it will cause our youth to use other drugs," said Basgall.

And with the community already battling addiction to other drugs residents say they don't want to be a part of this billion dollar high.

"Whether they try to keep it away from the younger generation-- great, I stand by them," said Skogsberg.

So far, the only city in Fresno County voted to allow pot cultivation. Coalinga voted to transform an old prison to a medical cannabis oil extraction plant.