Newsom offers plan to regulate pot clubs - Mayor says S.F. is the only county without oversight

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 4/22/5 | Rachel Gordon

[SmithL]

With the number of known medical marijuana clubs in San Francisco now up to 43, Mayor Gavin Newsom proposed on Thursday a number of regulations he hopes will "address legitimate neighborhood concerns regarding the location, proliferation and security of these dispensaries.''

The recommendations -- many already outlined in state law pertaining to medical marijuana -- range from forbidding the clubs to operate within 1,000 feet of places where young people congregate, such as playgrounds and schools, to requiring that operators adhere to good-neighbor policies.

The mayor wants to make sure no one drinks alcohol on the premises, that minimum security, ventilation and lighting standards are maintained, and that enforcement procedures are put in place to assure that no one is selling or buying the controlled substance in violation of Proposition 215, the California law approved by voters in 1996 that sanctioned medical marijuana for qualified patients.

[SmithL]

Most clubs have abandoned all pretense of being medical establishments and focus on being social institutions. Wow! We never saw that coming.

[RexBeach]

Is ANYTHING illegal in San Fran?

You know, I really do enjoy visiting the place; but how did SF get so full of, well, whackjobs?

[Unam Sanctam]

Of course we know Mayor Newsome is so dedicated to implementing the rule of law -- NOT!

[SmithL]

Is ANYTHING illegal in San Fran?

Conservatives

[AppyPappy]

I'm shocked to find gambling at this casino

[Kenton]

Aw come on now, ya gotta feel for all those sick old hippies.... ;)

[roostercashews]

My own opinion is that in its earliest days, SF (and the Left coast in general) was so far away from anything remotely lawful or overseen by a national government, that it adopted a liberal attitude and kept it through recent times.

The SF area is truly God's country when it comes to beauty. Who doesn't like it? But just like you, I'll stick to visiting and then coming home to what I feel is a normal life.

[uncitizen]

Is ANYTHING illegal in San Fran?

Well, yeah. Smoking within 20 yards or so of any public place for one.

You know, I really do enjoy visiting the place;

Why? seriously. Why?

[uncitizen]

The SF area is truly God's country when it comes to beauty.

You're kidding right? You need to get out more.

Who doesn't like it?

Guess who? :-)

[SF Republican]

It truly is a beautiful place to live, but I assure you do not try to convince anyone that does not live (or most likely ever visited) here they are blind with envy or hatred I am not sure which. I have had the good fortune to visit a lot of the world and would live no place else. I bought my first and probably last home here.

[RexBeach]

Great restaurants; the views; Golden Gate Park; and my very beautiful and brilliant goddaughter(the last reason is the best one).

[SF Republican]

You know, I really do enjoy visiting the place;

Why? seriously. Why?

World class restaurants, theaters, and people (over 200 languages spoken); absolutely spectacular weather, sunny and 60-65 365 days a year. No snow (but skiing in Tahoe 4 hours away) no farms (but beautiful vineyards 30 minutes away in Napa and Sonoma Valley), no camping (but Yosemite is only 4 hours away) the California coast, redwood trees. Of course on the down side we are the ONLY city in the world that has crime, gays, junkies, homeless and crazy people.

[uncitizen]

World class restaurants, theaters,
so do many other places

people (over 200 languages spoken);
well how many do you speak?

absolutely spectacular weather, sunny and 60-65 365 days a year.
absolutely wrong.

No snow (but skiing in Tahoe 4 hours away)
true, but so goes for other places.

no farms (but beautiful vineyards 30 minutes away in Napa and Sonoma Valley),
Farms can be beautiful.

no camping (but Yosemite is only 4 hours away)
No camping except the homeless camping in doorways.

the California coast, redwood trees.
not sure there are many redwoods left in San Francisco proper. Some.

Of course on the down side we are the ONLY city in the world that has crime, gays, junkies, homeless and crazy people
Ah. Now you're talking. Surely SF isn't the only city that has these things. It's gotta be in the top 2 as far as the extent of the combined problem tho. This is all in good fun. Don't take offense please.

[SF Republican]

I am never offended when people are jealous or ignorant.

[Cobra64]

Too crowded and too much traffic.

[AmericanChef]

-With the number of known medical marijuana clubs in San Francisco now up to 43...-

Ya mean, 43 have put up an official SIGN. Those 43 have always been in business, I'm thinking. Now it's merely official. The rest of the "clubs" (Welcome to Our Medical Club!) are where they've always been. They just don't have signs.

[Know your rights]

Most clubs have abandoned all pretense of being medical establishments and focus on being social institutions.

If, say, Oxycontin were legally available only through 'Oxycontin clubs' I expect you'd see the same sort of thing.

[Mike Darancette]

Open a combination Pot Club/Bath House, make a mint in SF.

[Mike Darancette]

Open a combination Pot Club/Bath House, make a mint in SF.

[uncitizen]

i'm not jealous that you are in SF if that's what you mean. I'm certainly not jealous of SF in any way. And i'm not ignorant of the situation in SF either. I live very close to SF and do not see it the way you do. It's a matter or opinion not jealousy or ignorance.