$10,000, it is like taking food out of our mouths for a year. if i get two grams of medicine a week free and a meal free, i do not see how that constitutes a dispensary when the dispensaries i belong to are already licensed, so licensing us again is like double dipping, which is not fair. we already jump through a lot of hoops as patients, which is already enough bureaucracy. i thank you for listening. supervisor chiu: thank you. next speaker. >> good afternoon, board members. i'm the director of access to love community center, which is located at 1260 mission. last time i was here -- how do i -- supervisor chiu: it will just appear. >> the last time i was here, we unanimously decided to close the

loopholes in the mca act that were going to allow some of our dispensaries to be wiped out. shortly thereafter, i received a violation notice from the planning department, and part of it that as outlined here reads that clearly on the front door, it says no medical cannabis is sold here, but they need to verify this further, so they stop in and saw that there were no registers, no menus. it was clearly not a retail operation. if you read the definition, i have circled here, it relates to not for profit. we are a nonprofit organization. a not-for-profit is more descriptive of the retail pharmacies, and i think that we also have to remember in regards

to access of love that this is a sanctuary city for medical cannabis, and we have intended to comply with the law. i had an arrangement with the health department that all members of access of love were to be members of the two-city permit it collectives that support axis of love, and i assume that was clear and understood, so now there is a little bit of a dispute going on between planning and health, and to my and standing in my reading, the health department has final jurisdiction over medical cannabis -- to my understanding and my reading. supervisor chiu: thank you very much. next speaker. >> i have been a member of the axis of love for 10 years. i am here today to inform you

that we are not a dispensary. we are a collective. i come to the center for groups. i get to communicate with patients that have the same issues as me. without the groups and support, i would probably be in an sro doing drugs. once you are in an sro, there is no help to better yourself. axis of love got me an apartment and moved me free of charge. i could have never done this on my own. every day, i could not go to the bathroom and my kitchen without dragging my oxygen tank down the hall. i feel much better about myself not -- now that i do not get harassed and abused every day. it also got me a vaporizer since i have problems breathing. every night, i also get a meal.

i probably would not be if it were not for them. after i have paid my rent and bills, i have $35 in need to live on, and there is no way i can afford my medicine. medicare will pay for all kinds of narcotics, which i could get hooked on, and i depend on the generosity of the collective. without this collected, i would not have a quality of life. please do not take it away -- without this collective, and i would not have a quality of life. >> good afternoon, supervisors. i am a member of the marijuana oversight of finance committee and activities director of axis of love. i am not an attorney, but i can beat the law. medical act of 2005 describes in medical cannabis dispensary as a

cooperative or collective of qualified patients or primary care givers that facilitate the lawful cultivation and distribution of cannabis for medicinal purposes and operates not-for-profit consistent with california health and safety codes 1136 2.5. i'm here today to report a gross misinterpretation of the law. having been involved in the process of the downfall, and i met a non for -- a not-for- profit cooperative, i assure you that my duties to not involve sitting behind a registered. there are no menus of men's for patients to choose from, and our services are limited to the members of our compassion, and

our charity-based services are geared specifically for those in the haitian community -- there are no menus of meds for patients. i encourage you guys to please ask the planning commission to cease and desist the harassment of compassionate services based agencies here in san francisco. thank you. >> good afternoon, members of the board of supervisors. i am a physician and nutritionist, and i wanted to submit in to public comment in support of supervisor mar's legislation before you currently that attempts to incentivize the

coupling of toys by fast food operations -- attempts to de- incentivize the coupling of toys by fast food operations. included statements by nationally renowned pediatricians and nature is in the spirit with regard to a study called 2008 feeding infants and toddlers study, a dietary intake survey of nearly 3400 infants and toddlers aged zero to four years, it was conducted to provide information on the pending patents and trade intakes of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers living in the united states -- the year in -- be eating patterns -- the eating patterns and intakes of infants

, toddlers, and preschoolers. the study specifically found that 60% of children consumed sweetened beverages every day and that the french fry is the top five vegetable that was consumed by infants and children in this age group. additionally, it was found that the bmi of the mother of the time of conception was one of the biggest predictors for childhood obesity, so i did want to submit this document. it is a very important document and will continue to be -- -- will contribute to the -- supervisor chiu: thank you very much. next speaker. >> good afternoon.

♪ city day-by-day city day-by-day oh, dear lord i see so clearly and i hope you hear me city day-by-day day-by-day oh, dear lord these things i pray these two minutes ago so quick the giants are going to get all the hits and i know they just cannot miss in this city day-by-day day-by-day i see better so clearly and i want you near me and i hope you hear me

day-by-day city day-by-day oh, dear lord these things i pray i promise you more deeply and i hope you hear me in this city day-by-day day by day day by day ♪ [applause] supervisor chiu: thank you. next speaker please. >> hi, supervisors. in a member of access of love, and i am also a contributor of compassionate services as a coat, and i just want to say

that -- i am a member of axis of love and also a contributor of compassion is services as a cook. the demands are really ridiculous. as far as bill 420, all patients are allowed to be care givers to one another if they are physically able to do that, and we are also allowed to have more than one caregiver. up to three at least provide medicines in all forms to help us through our trials and tribulations. axis of love is just a group

of patients being charitable to one another because we do not have the money to pay for it. taking it away would take away the ability of interns like myself to feel worthwhile in the community because of the services we are able to give to one another. again, nobody in our organization has got a house note paying in, a suburban van or any of a lot of the things you see the dispensary owners and stuff, and not that they do not deserve to earn a wage, but we clearly are in no form like any dispensary or in violation of any rule. thank you very much. supervisor chiu: thank you. next speaker. >> good afternoon. thank you, supervisors, for the

opportunity to address you. i am a member of axis of love. i'm not a lawyer, but i do read the law, and i know much can be interpreted. i became and medical marijuana patient back in 2000, and i know the difference between a medical marijuana dispensary and a charitable non-profit organization like axis of love. i attend a women's group, and i volunteer my services as a teacher. axis of love is a social services organization that provides counseling, meals, love, help, help reach, compassion, too low in, then no- income residents of san francisco become members. it is a closed group. people are not invited in off the street. you cannot just come in if you have a medical marijuana card.

you have to come in and then qualify. to me, it is an example of an authentic collected, which is written, and i think that could be interpreted, and i think axis of love qualifies in that way. there are no cash registers, no price lists. there is no money exchanged. it is a gift society. there are no employees, only volunteers. my request to you today is in place of hold san francisco's sanctuary law -- is to please the uphold -- is to please uphold san francisco's censure wary of. this organization does a great job for san francisco, and we need more of this. supervisor chiu: next speaker.

>> i am a medical marijuana -- microphones, all right. i am a medical marijuana user. about three months ago, i had major back surgery. as you noticed, there is a theme on going with the people that are talking to you. i have not been able to work in over to of the will years. after surgery, i was pretty much incapacitated, but axis of love has done more to help me than anything else out there, between the medical marijuana that they do provide, which i do not use any pain killers for narcotics since i left the hospital after three days. i only use medical marijuana. if it was not for axis of love,

there would be no way -- by also have seizures. i had one this morning. i should have stayed in bed today, but this is important enough of an issue. why is somebody trying to harass the only legitimate, in my opinion, medical marijuana co of -- co-op that i have ever come across? it is in foretaste, whoever is behind its. i guarantee you it is not somebody looking out for the betterment of the community. thank you for your time, and i hope that you listen to these people because we do not have many voices. this is our one opportunity, and you guys are the representatives of us and all that. we need your help. thank you. [applause]

supervisor chiu: before the next speaker, i would like to remind our visitors there is a board ruled that four of its of laws or other indications of support or opposition. we have this so that we can hear from all our speakers and move the proceedings efficiently. so if i could ask for your indulgence in that. next speaker. >> i would like to thank the board of supervisors. there has been a long military tradition in america supporting work ethics, promoting healthy lifestyle, and it simplifying ethical behavior. as they say, all gave some, some gave all. not being a lawyer, but nevertheless being able to read the law, i would like to say that the axis of love is a members-only, nonprofit, satellite charitable organization rather than a not- for-profit retail mcd.

i go for veteran support and treatment for my ptsd. i also like to say that the health department has jurisdiction over the axis of love, not the planning department. censure where's that is already prevents harassment of attempts to comply with the law -- sanctuary status already prevents harassment of a tense to comply with the law. i ask the board of supervisors is but fully to uphold the stage where status of san francisco. thank you very much. supervisor chiu: next speaker. >> hello, my name is hector. i'm not a lawyer, but i can read the law. axis of love has been a great

place. on monday, they have lots of programs for the low-income people such the veterans groups, they have a women's group that they feed. i think the only one that has a woman's group and dinner. classes in case you have a problem with drugs or alcohol. they have a chess club. the only just love it teaches ladies how to play chess that do not know how to play. the only chess club i probably know that has the patience to do that. and they have lots of great programs. at times that we are low on

money or low on gas, we need a hand at times, axis of love has been a great place. i do not think it is good moral ethics to tax or give a hard time to a place that does nothing but help low-income people. it is no different than a place feeding homeless people. everything is donations. there is no transfer of money. it is wonderful. great place. gives you the latest update of who is running for who in politics. it is a wonderful place. they have been go, open mike -- they have bingo. nothing but love. thank you. supervisor chiu: next speaker please. >> good afternoon. i want to thank the board and

president for giving me an opportunity to speak. i have appeared before the board numerous times, and i only usually speak about three issues -- veterans, homelessness, and medical marijuana. i am here to speak about both issues now. i have been a member of axis of love for a number of years. axis of love allows veterans to begin the socialization process to return back to society after being left on the street a number of years. this is a thankless process. unfortunately, you had to cut the budget so there is absolutely nothing left except for [inaudible] this is the director of axis of love. she is the one that when there

are no federal dollars, no state dollars, no city and county dollars, this lady -- ms. kathy smith is her sponsor -- these are the two ladies that help homeless san francisco veterans with meals, with the ability to pay rent. how about you did not hear an iraqi veteran came here -- a decorated era veteran, got his car towed, and he was going to lose everything because he did not have the fee. who stepped up? when you shut these people down, you are shutting the last resourced veterans have. i have been associated for a number of years. i have never seen a cash register, a price boards. i have seen nothing but love.

[applause] supervisor chiu: thank you. next speaker please. >> good afternoon. my name is catherine smith, and chiron hopenet, -- and i run hopenet. i'm not sure what is going on with axis of love and the planning department. about two and a half years ago, larry kessler said he had to do something, so we came up and we gave letters to the health department, stating that axis of love was funded by hopenet and 1944 ocean. that would make them a charitable organization because

they do not make any money themselves. iphone their bill. more of foots the bill. i really do not understand what this letter from the planning department is, and i do not understand who would attack such an organization as axis of love. you have heard from these people. sometimes she does not even have a house herself to live in. to say that they make money, that they should register as an mcd is absolutely ridiculous. i beg you to help us help the rest of these people. we are taking a huge financial burden of the city. we are helping house people, feed people, help them just cope with life.

it is an atrocity to even think that this would be a medical dispensary. like you have heard, they have no cash register. they have no way of making money. supervisor chiu: thank you. next speaker. >> good afternoon, board of supervisors. thank you for this opportunity to speak. i am a member and volunteer staff member axis of love, and i have seen firsthand how much it is helping low-income people. kathy smith and 1944 ocean have been sponsoring us for years.

we are not a dispensary. we do not exchange in -- any money. we do not have cash registers. we do not sell cannabis or anything else for that matter. i think that we are a nonprofit, not a not-for-profit, and i think there is a distinction, even though i'm not an attorney myself. i think there is some clarification. thank you very much. supervisor chiu: thank you. next speaker. >> good afternoon. this is about a different kind of love. as we grow older, many of us become more and more of loan, losing our friends and loved ones to the relentless passing of time -- many of us become more and more alone. i dedicate this to the many senior citizens that have lost

their loved ones and friends. a tear drop falls for a lost love, lost to the relentless drive of passing time, never to return. you will never know how we met when we reflect on the images of your living spirit as it once was, but you live in memory. you have never been closer to me now than you are now. somehow i know you know more than ever how much we love you so. thank you. supervisor chiu: thank you. next speaker. >> good afternoon, supervisor. i am a member and i'm also hiv-

positive. if it were not for axis of love, i would be sitting in my house, dwelling in my head. i also used to be a drug user. axis of love held a women's group, and it is the only group in san francisco, and if you take away their love, that is the only thing -- i'm nervous. [inaudible] thank you. >> i would like to say greetings to the board of supervisors. i have been a member of the collective axis of love since 2008 ever since our women circle group began.

that are well known among the community of patients for always being more than generous with compassion, care, and sharing. i have become an avid participant in several groups from a chess club beginner, learning about the women circle " where i learned how to meditate, channel my energy into healing, in joining great food adding to the club it drives, where to shop and find great bargains, safe housing options, the policies of federal and state politics, ways to maintain setbacks for those in need of those purposes, sound banking to improve my self- confidence and social skills, and lots of compassionate biddies for all attendees. i would like to believe that the members of the collective axis of love our patients who have very low resources, who need