SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco Board of Supervisors Planning Commission will hear potential amendments to the City’s already restrictive medical cannabis dispensary permitting process. The Board will consider limiting the number of collectives by creating a buffer between dispensaries. Medical marijuana establishments are already sequestered to areas of San Francisco called ‘green zones.’ Further restrictions in these zones mean collectives trying to relocate as a result of recent federal interference are going to have a very difficult time finding a place to move.“Many of San Francisco’s oldest collectives are shuttered by the DEA. If any of these collectives want to reorganize, they’re going to have a difficult time finding a location,” states Degé Coutee, president of Patient Advocacy Network - http://www.cannabissaveslives.org/directors.html. “San Francisco needs to provide patients with more access not less while under this federal attack,” Coutee states.
Patient Advocates in San Francisco have issued the following:
ACTION ALERT
What: SF Planning Commission to further restrict permitting for Medical Cannabis Dispensaries. See agenda item 9 - http://www.sf-planning.org/index.aspx?page=3446
URGENT - Email the SF Planning Commission at:
commissions.secretary@sfgov.org, planning@rodneyfong.com, cwu.planning@gmail.com, wordweaver21@aol.com, plangsf@gmail.com, richhillissf@yahoo.com, mooreurban@aol.com, hs.commish@yahoo.com
URGENT - Contact Supervisor Avalos, the author of the bill at: (415) 554-6975 and (415) 359-8367. Email him and his staff at: John.Avalos@sfgov.org, Raquel.Redondiez@sfgov.org, Frances.Hsieh@sfgov.org, Jeremy.Pollock@sfgov.org
URGENT - Attend this hearing & voice your concerns.
When: Thursday, April 18, 2013 – 12 p.m.
Where: San Francisco City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Commission Chambers - Room 400
Link to the Commissioners’ page:
http://www.sf-planning.org/index.aspx?page=7 - pc_roster
Shona Gochenaur, director of Axis of Love SF, a social service center for medical cannabis patients in San Francisco, states she is outraged. “How dare Supervisor Avalos call himself a progressive leader, then try to block patient safe access in a medical cannabis sanctuary city,” states Gochenaur. “He is assuring that our community’s rooted collectives closed by the U.S. Department of Justice will have no place to relocate,” Gochenaur continues.
U.S. Attorneys in California Set Crackdown on Marijuana
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/08/us/california-to-crack-down-on-medical-marijuana.html?_r=0
Feds Order California Pot Dispensaries To Shut Down
http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2011/10/06/feds-order-california-pot-dispensaries-to-shut-down/