‘Member, Board of Supervisors District & City and County of San Francisco JEFF SHEEHY July 24, 2017 Honorable Members Land Use and Transportation Committee City Hall—Room 244 San Francisco, CA 94102 Re: Proposed Interim Moratorium on Medical Cannabis Dispensaries Strongly Oppose Dear Chait Farrell, Vice-Chair Peskin and Supervisor Tang: regret that I am unable to join you today but wanted to make certain that you were aware of my strong opposition to Planning’s recommendation to “[p}ropose a citywide interim moratorium on the approval of Medical Cannabis Dispensary [MCD] applications until the City adopts aew MCD regulations informed by the forthcoming, Adult Use Cannabis controls.” Supervisor Safai previously discussed his proposed ordinance with me, and I expressed my support for his proposal. His concerns about the overconcentration of MCDs on Ocean Avenue are legitimate. I have also supported conditional use authorization for MCDs in certain zoning districts in the Sunset. Therefore, I was surprised that a local ordinance submitted by a district supervisor would yield a Planning recommendation that would limit access to medical cannabis patients citywide. Tam concerned as a Supervisor and also as a San Franciscan who benefits from medical cannabis and who possesses a state-issued card, My priority on cannabis policy is to protect patients first as we work collaboratively to plan the future of cannabis in an ‘equitable way here in San Francisco and throughout California. “The staff repost states that “interim moratoriums are intended to protect the public safety, health and welfare.” This recommendation does the complete opposite. As you know, MCDs ate only able to serve individuals with medical conditions that necessitate the use of cannabis. A medical cannabis recommendation or card are needed to access these dispensaries, and individuals who benefit are among the most vulnerable San Franciscans, In passing Proposition 215, the California Compassionate Use Act, our state made clear that medical cannabis should be protected. City Hall * 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place + Room 244 + San Frar Fax (415) 554-6909 © TDDITTY (415) 5545227 + isco, California 94102-4689 + (415) mail: Jeff Sheehy @sfgov.org‘There are very real operational and zoning concerns about the adult use of cannabis. However, medical cannabis patients should not be denied access because City government has struggled to figure out the complex policy issues. The Office of Cannabis ’'ve proposed will help coordinate City departments and make recommendations to the Board and I believe it is best to consider operational and zoning issues together. The Office of Cannabis will be required to come back to the Board on or before November 1*. During our recent discussion of the Office of Cannabis, the Board restated its support for equity and diversity of cannabis operations. In addition to medical cannabis patients, this moratorium could also hurt small collectives with less capital who serve to diversify the medical cannabis community. Such small collectives have paid all Planning fees, conducted community outreach and often paid rent to a potential landlord. Creating tremendous uncertainty for these applicants could result in their inability to even reach a Planning Commission heating many months from now As we consider how to implement Proposition 64’s mandate of the adult use of cannabis, I respectfully urge the Committee to reject the proposal to create a citywide moratorium on medical cannabis dispensaries. I look forward to working with you on cannabis policy in the weeks and months ahead. excl, JEFF SHEEHY Supervisor for District 8 cc: Honorable Members, Board of Supervisors Clerk, Board of Supervisors Honorable Members, Planning Commission Cannabis State Legalization Task Force John Rahaim, Director of City Planning Barbara Garcia, Directot of Public Health Naomi M. Kelly, City Administrator Anecka Chaudhry, Mawuli Tugbenyoh, Office of Mayor Edwin M. Lee Interested Parties