13-year-old or 5-year-old or a 10-year-old within their walls? to partake in alcohol? those places to not have security measures in place we're talking about what medical cannabis. so i asked you to support this project and allow it to continue. >> i just came here because i want to say i support this project. i think it is going to bring positive things to our community. i hope we're going to make it. >> i am susan. thank you for moving the item two later on in the agenda. it allowed me to come here after a session.

both of them are used for symptoms post-chemotherapy. either our cycle active. i am not interested in being drugged, just feeling better, that has my father in law who could not eat. at a low can of this allowed him to regain his appetite -- edible cannabis allowed him to regain his appetite. my father-in-law's physicians suggested another form of medical cannabis and we relied on the to passionate staff at a legal dispensary. we were not interested in a scary transaction on a street corner. my father in law lived several blocks from the dispensary. it would have been a godsend to have a close to us because we cared for my father-in-law.

thank you very much. i hope he will make the right decision. >> my name is david goldman. i am speaking on behalf of the san francisco chapter of americans chris eighth acts of -- americans for safe access. we have 50,000 members made up of medical cannabis patients, medical professionals, scientists and the desert -- concerned citizens promoting the safe and legal access to medical cannabis for use in research. the san francisco chapter provides the thousands of it for those who reside in the bay area. we have had an exemplary record. we propose that the club will go

a long way to provide corporations. we have been supported of the work on behalf of access, they have also made outreach to their neighbors, and a pledge to work with them on any matters of mutual concern. we urge the board to deny the appeal. it will be a fine addition to the neighborhood. >> can i ask the folks along the wall to come closer by the podium? >> good evening, members. my name is michael cohen. i live in san francisco and i am a member of the americans for safe access chapter in san francisco.

as a medical cannabis patient, i use medical cannabis for a number of issues, for aids, hiv, shingles, depression, migraines, and also for pain control. i want there to be safe access to the medical community in the carter mission. why should residents in this neighborhood be denied safe access in their own neighborhood? the dispensary will be a good neighbor. it wants to follow the rules and regulations. they will be well-run and they want to be a positive part of the community. we want to work with you and we are willing to address any of your concerns. i urge the board to deny the appeal of mission organics. they will be a fine addition to

the mission neighborhood. please grant the permit. president hwang: next speaker. >> i am a member of americans for safe access. i live a few blocks from the proposed location. this neighborhood would benefit for this dispensary as it would provide safe access for medicine for patients that live nearby like me. i recently moved from los angeles and i personally know these people. i'm going to ask you guys to please -- they would be a great asset to our community. i live three blocks away from it. i would benefit.

>> my name is kevin brown. my wife and i lived near mission organics. we lived in los angeles and can attest to the professionalism of the places down in l.a. which have the same owners. we want to qualm any worries about crime increasing. there is no evidence that crime increases. in fact, it decreases. there is no evidence that under age use increases. not even 1% since it started in 1996. i wanted to put the worries at ease and let you guys know that i know them and they run a

great dispensary and should be allowed to open in the mission to supply those patients with medicine. >> i suffer from chronic back pain and anxiety a public speaking. if i start shaking, forgive me. i am in support of medical cannabis because it was the only thing to help me with my back pain. i cannot even tell you what happened but i turned 18 years old and things would work. i started getting paid to the point where i could not even get off the couch. i had to crawl to my bed. i sat there wondering if i was corn to stop breathing. i had all kinds of over-the- counter drugs. nothing worked. medical candice was the only thing that could relieve my cane.

so i am in support of medical cannabis. i have a letter i have been asked to read from supervisor avalos. "thank you for the opportunity to address you. i am supportive of patient access to medical cannabis and have supported the city's approach to permitting mcd's. i expect these dispensaries to meet other conditions for approval that the mission -- commission can and should apply. it is important that conditions for the assurance of operating permits for all of these facilities include adequate and appropriate lighting. contribution of the safety of

the block in contributions of the aesthetic appeal by adding greenery and maintaining clean, well painted facades. i expect all entities would work closely to address any concerns as well as maintain an ongoing relationship in order to ensure compliance with agreed upon conditions. thank you for your support on these issues. i look forward the to a collaborative process where we can accommodate the needs for access as well as the safety and security concerns for of the residence." >> my name is paul. i was involved with the terra belle project. during the discretionary review

our remember the commissioner made a comment -- >> excuse me, we're trying to record this. please continue. >> during the comments, commissioner miguel made an interesting comment and said he has been around issues like this and he has heard about -- he likened it to bringing atms to the street. he was worried that people would know they would have the cash. that never happened. study after study in l.a., colorado, other places showed that there is no increase in crime. the police commission asked them to substantiate their claims of a letter that there was increased crime. the planning commission laughed

at their report. since then, there have been many reports that shows crime does not happen. it is not increased a crime. i wanted to tell you about another patient that came to me. i wanted to tell you that she suffered from heart disease, diabetes. she was 78 and she was scared to death. she would see dragon's bouncing off walls. but she was willing to try anything. she tried it as a last resort. she came to me, i signed her up to the collective. i helped her to get it. she said it was a miracle. god be praised. her husband said, it is a new world. i have my wife back. she passed away in february.

her husband still calls me. twice a month since surpassing thanking me for giving back his life, his wife, and marriage. >> my name is brian webster. thank you for your service and the opportunity to speak. i have lived in san francisco over 30 years. we are a workers resource center. we have been around for over 30 years. we provide legal services to the working poor and we have a working media program using the internet web video to tell stories about things that are working for working people.

we study and pay attention to these issues. we mostly stand up and speak out and eat -- for economic development, good jobs, and we believe that a tax to unregulated medical cannabis industry in california is good for everybody. it is good for the community, organized labor, good for business and good for the community. we have taken a look at mission organics and we think they are uniquely committed to the best practices. we think they are sincere, that they have the ability and the will to deliver on their commitments. we want to ask you to deny the appeal and to grant the permit.

there are a lot of people who are afraid. but it is unfounded. we think that this is going to be a good thing for a lot of people. it is going to be good for san francisco, for jobs, for revenue and good for business and labor. thank you for your time. >> i think if they open the community will be worse. i heard a gunshot. if they open, there are a lot of students around that area. i lived there 21 years. it used to be peaceful. now it is getting more worse. if they need medication, they can go to the hospital and get a pain pill or whatever.

not open in the community. i think it is impossible. there are more people coming out. chinese have had to work to make money, to raise a family. there are seven schools around. i think if you have something open, this morning at 4:00, a gunshot. think about it. it is worse for the kids. i have kids in college. i lived there for 21 years. i would like to stay in the area but it is getting worse. if you go there at night time, after 10:00, it is really crazy. go out in the nighttime.

if you opened three stores like that, i think the area is getting more worse. everybody is moving out. >> i would like the act -- to ask the speakers to please come forward. >> i am a resident of the area.

between geneva, there are a lot of bus stops. for example, line number eight, 29, and 54. and 43. because on that area, a lot people are waiting their to get on the bus. everyday i need to take the bus to go to work. there are a lot of people who are not residents in the area and are loitering around the area. there are from other area. there is one day i got off the

bus and i got someone snapped -- snatched my purse. i made the police report. up until now they have not arrested anyone yet. i am so worried if you open one of these marijuana shops at a lot of people who do not belong in the area will be in the area. i am so worried about the safety of the neighborhood and more people will be victimized. that is all.

>> i live around the mission area. i am very worried if they're going to have the marijuana shop open there. if people passing by like going to school, i am very concerned. that is all. >> next speaker. >> i lived in geneva have located outside mission. -- live in geneva located

outside mission. if they are going to open and marijuana shop, i am very concerned some of the kids will eventually get addicted to this marijuana. marijuana is a drug. if people get addicted, they can have like a mental illusion. when i was waiting on the bus in the area, i have seen people after they took its, they are wobbling around and they do not know what is going on and they fall onto the ground.

i have seen that they hurt themselves, bleeding from the head, then nose, i was extremely scared and frightened. let's say if marijuana can treat people, they are going to go to the hospital. they could go to a place to get the medicine. why would they have to open it in another area? i wish and marijuana shop owner, not because of the financial responsibility as well as because of jobs, they are

hurting the next generation. i am totally opposed to having this marijuana shop to be open in that area. that is all. >> america is such a great country. anything they can treat. why would they need marijuana to treat people? because using marijuana affects the elderly people.

for us as old folks, we are very worried we might get brought and these people taking marijuana a. if you have marijuana, the security will be bad in the neighborhood. a definitely do not want that shot to be open there. >> good evening, everybody.

i lived in outside mission. i oppose having the marijuana shop being opened in the area. when i see people taking marijuana, and i get frightened about these people. in fact, we worry for the kids when they were a young child until as an adult, we always worry they would get involved with this. i am greatly concerned and any time i do not feel safe.

so i totally oppose having the marijuana shop be opened. >> hold on one second. the head. >> good evening. my name is mary harris. i'm president of the district 11 council. 12 of the 13 members, with the exception supports the appeal this evening. they understand the need. when they voted for it, they thought it would be dispensed through pharmacies or a delivery

service. now are we -- we're confronted with it being on our commercial corridor in that is where the problem starts. it is not attractive on a commercial corridor. it starts to look like a fortress if you have seen them. they detract from the businesses on the corridor. clustering as the other issue. we do not feel it is appropriate or we have that amount of sick people that requires three dispensaries in such a short area. we also realize we have the highest amount of children and seniors in our district and this is also problematic. the one on ocean avenue have been relatively safe. that is not the issue, the safety component. but when something does happen, which it did and the shots were

fired, it is pretty scary. it was next to a senior center, and they have since moved from that area. generally, the ones that we had on ocean avenue, there was not a problem. once there is a problem it is significant when the shots are being fired. we asked to honor this appeal. that is all we have right now. we understand christine is working on legislation that the board of supervisors but for now we have to rely on you. >> what is the district 11 council? >> it is a neighborhood organization within the john avalos district. we work with our supervisor to

be informed of the issues and support each other in the work we do, whether it is parks or schools or commercial corridors. we want to improve our district and work together. >> are they also members? >> yes. >> are 13 members? >> they all voted to support the appeal. >> i need to ask you another question. i am not familiar with the mcd's on a mission. but she said they looked like fortresses? -- you said they looked like fortresses? >> bear are bars on the windows. -- there are bars on the windows. >> on the front for sought? >> yes.

-- facade? >> yes. >> my name is david hooper and i am the president of new hooper terrace improvement. that would be west of mission street and north of balboa high school. in march in response to the approval of the three mcd's, our neighborhood association met and voted unanimously to oppose all three and to support the appeals involved in all three of these. we are also a member of the district 11 council and i point out it includes nonprofits immediately across the viaduct from the other 4200 block mcd. this comes down to a question of what somebody's vision of