Pubdate: Sun, 04 Sep 2005
Source: San Francisco Examiner (CA)
Copyright: 2005 San Francisco Examiner
Contact:  http://www.examiner.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/389
Author: Jo Stanley

MEDICAL POT CLUBS UNDER SCRUTINY

Two of San Francisco's better-known medical pot clubs have been put on 
notice by The City as officials grapple with the burgeoning industry amidst 
growing neighborhood protests.

The Green Cross in the Mission must make major changes to regain its permit 
and the Mendo Healing clinic may not relocate to Potrero Avenue while The 
City's current moratorium is in effect, city planning officials have ruled.

In April, the Board of Supervisors imposed a 45-day moratorium -- that has 
since been extended -- as it began to sort out how to regulate The City's 
medical marijuana business that functions with little legal supervision. 
Three pieces of legislation are currently being floated detailing health 
and safety rules for 40-plus medicinal marijuana facilities, which include 
permit requirements. Although both of these clubs had taken out business 
permits, many others have not.

"I do, in a lot of ways, feel I'm being penalized while doing the right 
thing," said Kevin Reed, who operates the Green Cross club on 18th Street. 
He conceded his 250 to 300 clients a day require some managing to avoid 
inconveniencing neighbors, but said he's taken many steps to improve 
security and minimize traffic and other nuisances since his permit was 
suspended earlier this summer.

He said the long list of requirements laid out on Friday by City Zoning 
Administrator Lawrence Badiner seemed "drastic" -- particularly eliminating 
the separate office he uses to oversee security cameras and shutting down 
at 6 p.m. on weekdays instead of 8 p.m.

Paula Medina, a bartender at The Liberties nearby, said she didn't expect 
opponents would be satisfied with anything less than closure, adding that 
in recent weeks improvements regarding neighborhood impact had been made. 
"People just want them gone," she said.

Dan Sider, of the Planning Department, said officials will be taking public 
comment on recommendations for Green Cross until Sept. 12 before sending 
pot club before the Board of Appeals for a hearing on Sept. 21.

Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, who introduced one of three competing sets of 
regulations to protect the patients under voter-backed state Proposition 
215 while minimizing problems in the vicinity, said he has questions about 
the latest actions, some of which appear to go beyond any of the proposed 
restrictions.

A representative of the Mendo Healing club said its South of Market outlet 
had closed this summer, but owner David Moore had maintained a delivery 
service since then and had not yet committed to opening a new business at 
595 Potrero Ave.
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MAP posted-by: Elizabeth Wehrman