one of the leading medical cannabis dispensaries in the bay area. i find their compassion and commitment to patients' needs unsurpassed. for example, the green cross offers expensive, impressive discounts for seniors and veterans. the staff is professional, extremely knowledgeable in all aspects of medical cannabis including, i urge you to grant the permit for an open facility and that this continued to provide cannabis with an excellent and friendly service. thank you. commissioner antonini: if i have called your name, please come on up. >> i have been a patient for the past three years. i personally as a patient, firsthand after getting treated

by chemotherapy and radiation, i çnoticed how it affected nausea and i understand there are people out there that are of bill -- abusing the name of uq)e are people who are using it to get better. i personally if you would have told me to smoke five years ago, i would say you are joking. when was prescribed by dr. due to the nausea, i tried it. it really helped me. the people who are before you and in line for that location, they have been helping me but i would love to see location that i have a chance to go if i want to go today. not to wait for them to respond to a call. they are busy people. as far as the people who are opposing this location, my daughter moved to the geneva area which is already, there is graffiti everywhere. if any of these neighbors cared,

they would do something right now before the pot club or dispensary gives them a bad name. if they cared about them, there would look at the liquor store where all kinds of busy -- ççcheesy business goes on in e back room. them and do whatever. most of my --iñ we go home and have a glass of wine. we never see a pot person being violated or drive a hundred miles an hour. a couple of glass of wine could do that to the human, give the wrong judgment and it has been proven. i am here to talk on their behalf. since they have been a model citizen as a dispensary, you should give them a chance and i hope all these people who are worried about their children, they teach their children from

the house where they should be taught. but there is good or bad or drug or is not. for blaming society for the children is wrong. >> 120 years ago or so, the good people of many neighborhoods like this one would come to keep chinese-americans from living and working in their neighborhoods. they would tell you, we're not bigots are hateful. we're concerned about our children. it would tell you is about the safety of the children. those chinese will go some with opium and kidnap them and take them to shanghai. some years ago another neighborhood like this one, the very good people would tell you those african-americans should not live in their neighborhood. there will rapierq will drug them with heroin.

50 years ago, it would have been the gays. their child molesters. they're going to steal your children and make your children day. çit is all about the children. we're not bigoted. it is about the children's safety. now the new bogyman seems to be the medical marijuana patient. debate look like child molesters? are they going to blow smoke into your preschool. 's face? are they going to take some kid out of kindergarten and make him smoke a joint? do they look like they're going to do that? it is bigotry. just like racism and other forms of bigotry. when people judge, people use medical marijuana this way, it is bigotry. >> good evening. i would like to point out first if there are children in -- that there are children in every

neighborhood, their neighbors in every neighborhood. there is no evidence that having an mcd in the neighborhood parks the children. there is no evidence that has been brought before this commission that it harms the neighbors themselves, the adults çin the neighborhood. on the other hand, there are many sick people in every neighborhood in san francisco. i believe there should be a dispensary for medicali] marijuana in every neighborhood. there is none in this neighborhood. please ignore the ignorance and the suspicions and the fear that have been generated among the neighborhood groups. kevin reed has shown this to be true. when he applied for is permit to be a delivery service on 11th street, several of his important neighbors were opposed. they soon learned within a few months they supported this

project because he cleaned up the block. oksimple as that. he made it more possible for the people going in the bar across n their own neighborhood and that is important to me. i believe that havingç this dispensary in this neighborhood will improve the safety of the neighborhood. it will not harm the children. it will definitely help those in the neighborhood who need medical marijuana. ççthank you. commissioner antonini: thank you. >> ñrthank you for giving me the opportunity to speak. i have been a client of the green cross since 2005. at that time i had an opportunity to meet mr. reed after his earlier location had to close. i continue to be a client. i came to admire his methods as

being as good as any dispensary i have ever visited. not that i visited a lot but the ones i have. i am here to speak about kevin and hisç -- the way he runs his cooperative. b.i appreciate the comments ofl the people who are opposed to the dispensary. i think if anybody can address their concerns and make them comfortable with thisç business in their neighborhood, it is mr. reed. thank you. >> hello. i am a medicalç marijuana advocate. speaking right now, to cover a couple of topics that have not been adequately covered. one is clustering. as you are aware there are several neighborhoods that

dispensaries can operate in and we get natural clustering. more importantly is the idea that the competition is good. t(we're talking about organizations serving the needs of medical patients. the fact is these medical patients will have a choice of where they want to go to get their medicine. this will force the parties involved to provide better madison, better quality of service to their patients. having multiple dispensaries located close to each other is a positive thing as opposed to a negative thing. i would like to discuss the issue of children. i have worked with dispensaries all of the state and there are by andñr large well regulated especially in cities like san francisco that have such a strong regulatory framework. children do not get to walk in and buy marijuana. it was not too long ago that i was a high-school student and there were no dispensaries around and i never had any

problems seeing marijuana all the plays. at parties, the street corners, it exists. can i get rid of it. the dispenser is not causing children to smoke marijuana. if anything, they're hoping that situation. the final point i would like to bring at often underrepresented when discussing the medical mayor, -- medical marijuana patient. people with cancer, multiple sclerosis, these are ill patients who in many cases the only way they managed to lead a quality of life worth living is through medical marijuana. there's another group, a much larger groups that almost never gets discussed. this is a group of patients to could use other medicine that may be more harmful or more addictive. but they have used marijuana instead. these medications include saks, prozac, -- adderall, ambien.

these are problems people have and doctors prescribe medication. i have a lot of friends and associates and i have talked to people who have used marijuana to get off those medications. to stop using theç more dangers medications. thank you. -- xdto stopç using the more dangerous medications. thank you. >> i am a patient. i have three children and none of them use drugs. marijuana is a medicine. the there is separation between my use and my children's availability for them to access it. youñr keep it like you would medicine. keep away from your children. i think -- i have been tooç may

dispensaries in sentences go. i keep coming back to the green cross for two reasons. they have the best quality and the best price. if you want to support what makes san francisco unique and interesting,w3 supporting successful good businesses, you should support the green cross. i have done the research. they're the best. that is all i have to say. thank you. commissioner antonini: thank you. >> cresskill videtsfisit does sy medication to keep fromt( using drugs that cause me were side effects.

-- worst side effects. like many have said, the green cross is professional. what i love is the information they provide so i can make an informed decision about the prescriptions i want to use. what works best for me. i]the idea of being able to come in and talk to their staff, they're so informed to find out what strains are available. what chemical compositions they have, what works best for me and my illness. what other patients might be using that would work for me. that would be valuable. i would like to address the issue of the fear in the community. it is unfortunate. i am a patient. i am not a criminal. i am not a drug addict. t(i do not abuse or use medical marijuanaç in -- around the children.

i have respect for the neighborhood. and just to say that there could possibly be more people here as well in favor of this, but cannot be here because they are ill. i want to bringç attention to that. thank you. commissioner antonini: thank you. are there additional speakers in please come up. okç>> good evening. i am the assistant manager at green cross. shaha iñr wanted to add on to that. as a delivery service, we're not just a delivery service. we inform patients that are not aware of what medical cannabis does to help out. all they would get e-mails and phone calls asking how they can

be helped by medical cannabis. they're not aware of it. i look at it as we're an educational service for medical cannabis because there are so many patients. before started here, i would -- was always thinking, it does not really help. it is nonsense. after working there, just got so much information about it. çhearing from patients oliver talking on the phone, being on delivery. talking to patients, cit has helped them. you learned so much from just talking to other patients. it is a good educational service we provide as well. i can only see as helping culmore patients, bringing more knowledge about medical cannabis to other people who will not have that information brought to them. i wanted to bring that up as well. çfor the more -- talkingç abo

kevin, he provides the most professional service i have worked at. he has for the most part changed my life and how 08 boss can -- a boss can affect your life. it would only bring good to more people. i fully hope it is approved for that reason as well. thank you. commissioner antonini: thank you. >> i have been on a native san franciscan all my life and to me, it is an honor to be part of this organization. to see the good it does and be helpful to people in different situations and circumstances. i am here in support of the

green cross getting approval and -- i have seen all these situations and complications that a dispensary may have. i am here to address them and i can see what the concerns are about. i am here to say that i will take care of that. thank you. >> good evening. i am an employee at the green cross prater would like to speak on behalf of the organization. have the -- having the facility open. i am proud of my position. i am proud of where our work. i am a student on my way to get the marketing degree. i'm not a gang banger. i do not spray paint. i tried to contribute to my society, to my neighborhood. i wish that people who came to oppose this notice that we are trying toç make the neighborhod

a better place and would like can -- to contribute to the city and with your progressive thoughts and with our medical cannabis, this is how it has helped people who are in pain and misery. i hope you take the time to consider opening this place. thank you. >> thank you. >> the evening. -- good evening. i am a strong supporter ofç the green cross. there is no doubt that the green cross would be a positive addition to the neighborhood. i grew up in the excelsior district. it is not the best neighborhood out there. my parents moved out there for right reasons. it is cheaper. i eighth went to school out there. there is no doubt in my mind we would make the neighborhood a much safer place. we have implemented cameras and we will be out there on patrol.

we will definitely improve the lifestyle of the neighborhood. i strongly disagree with the people who say our neighborhood is going to turn into this bad thing when we show up. a lot of the opposition has said the neighborhood -- it is already a bad place and for that say, i will let you know that. we will definitely make it a better and cleaner and safer neighborhood. thank you. >> my name is santonio. thanks for having this hearing. i got a cold today. i did not feel like coming here to do this. the green cross has been are really get cameras dispensary for me to work with. i am born and raised in the bay

area. i am 39. there was a time like someone mentioned before when i grew up in san jose. there was graffiti, there was cannabis in people's pockets on corners and honestly, it is a ridiculous conversation to have. in this day and age when we all know how one can go through life in many different ways and come to a reality. a friend of mine used to live in the excelsior neighborhood. when she was there, i spent four years around trade as seminal and getting gas of on the corner at geneva. it has always been a particularly rough neighborhood. i can see that only improving with the green cross.

this is the type of organization, i have had my card u or 11 years now. somebody else mentioned they keep coming back to the green cross. i do, too. thank you. commissioner antonini: i there additional speakers in favor of the project sponsor? iñ>> hello and good evening. i am coming to you today as a third-generation san franciscan and also someone who was raised in the neighborhood. i went to balboa. i know all about the area in the neighborhood. i want to tell you that the green cross being there would be a good thing for. my grandmother lives in the neighborhood. i go there all the time. i recently became a certified

massage therapist. they're still hiring and giving opportunities to people who are looking for work. i recommend that you approve what it does best. thank you. >>commissioner antoéini: i there additional speakers in favor? d.r. requestor, you have two minutes for rebuttal. >> i wanted to mention one thing. there was a gentleman who said the closest mcd was 31st -- 29th and mission, but we have another one on ocean avenue. it is sam wished in between those two -- sandwiched in between those two. commissioner antonini: present

sponsor, you have two minutes. -- project sponsor, you have two minutes. >> i would like to start this off on the right foot. it is the green cross's intention to prove to the opposition -- the opposition wrong, to prove their concerns unfounded. we will do everything inç our power to work with good members of the neighborhood were opposed and make them the neighborhood a much better place. the last time the green cross applied for a permit, there was one person who spoke and she was middle-of-the-road. she had some hesitancy but she was not opposed. she was across the street from the current permit location. the greeni]it will do everythine it unfounded, and with that, i

will submit it to the board. >> thank you. >> is a public comment clothes? -- is a public comment closed? >> yes. >> the report i saw said there would be no on-site consumption. and what is the clarification. >> there will be no on-site consumption. no on-site consumption whatsoever. >> go ahead. >> i want to address what officer mccarthy mentioned about surveillance and the request that the police get

their own view. i want to point out that was addressed with the board of supervisors. the board of supervisors rejected that proposal. there would be some serious concerns with police having their own views, and it would be a great deterrent for folks who are not committing any crime under california law. the idea of 13 down crime means we would bring down violent crime and what i would refer to as a real crime. >> i believe there was some talk of cameras. >> there would be cameras on the street, and that would be used to record of violent crime, muggings, that kind of thing, but the concern would be if the police would have lifetime feet,

they would get to see everything that occurs. >> were there to be a problem, that would be something you would have to give to them. >> the police would have to subpoena the video footage, and there would be an opportunity to challenge. >> that is always the case. i have another question, and that is that some of your dispensaries our delivery service and not dispensaries. you have a couple were you cannot get it. you have toç get it delivered. >> there are two types of dispensaries. there are storm front dispensaries were you have to walk in. you can talk to somebody about what is the best for the ailments you suffer froilw3 and there are delivery services.

there are many patients who cannot leave their home, so it is difficult to get to the service, so you have the two types, but they are both considered dispensaries. >> why not make this a place where you would call in, you get in a vise, and you make your order? somehow you -- you get advice, and you make your order, and it is delivered to the patients? >> for newt( patients, and they just got diagnosed, and they just got their medical marijuana card. they do not know what they want, and it is important to be able to see the marijuana, to touch it, smell it, have a conversation with someone, get a broken up into smaller quantities. it is unreasonable to deliver $20 of marijuana every time, so eason why it is

important to have a combination of storefront and delivery, and this is an area that is successful by public transit -- accessible by public transport. >> i understand. that is just a suggestion. i will have some questions. i also have a questiont(%q fore dr requester. i do not expect you to give me an answer at this time about any kind of preference, but in my mind it seems as though there would probably be a dispensary somewhere in the area of excelsior because of a geographic regions. i do not know whether you feel this location is better, or do you have a feeling about where would be the least injury as a place? >> i knew you would ask me that question.

as difficult as it would be to take a location, i almost cannot do thatç common -- cannot do that, because i met a group of people who said we cannot file a dr commook, so i cannot give one location. ç>> i understand that. >> there are a couple of organizations that were asking if i was filing a dr, and they said they suppo+ted us in the dr. >> i understand. just getting back out there. the other questions. mine are mostly comments. t(i am impressed that i got letters from the boys and girls club in opposition. i understand the concerns, and it is a situation that is less than ideal. unfortunately, you have got a

controlled substance that is not purchasable. it is a prescription thing, but it is also a cash business, and they are[t( all difficult situations. weç deal with jurisdictional problems. it would be nice if we had a state controlled situation where it would notç be run as an individual business. it lends itself to problems when youç have so much cash and this like that, but i have had some w3dealings with green cross. they seemed to be one of the better purveyors of medical marijuana from what i can see. i have mixed feelings. i am not sure how i am going to vote, but i want to hear what some ofiñ the visitors have to say, and i