Supervisors approve Chinatown cannabis dispensary ban

Supervisors approve Chinatown cannabis dispensary banPhoto: Anthony G. Reyes/Flickr
Nathan Falstreau
Published on August 01, 2018

In an 8–3 vote, the Board of Supervisors has approved new legislation prohibiting all cannabis-related enterprises in Chinatown and along its surrounding borders. 

Supervisors Hillary Ronen, Rafael Mandelman and Vallie Brown were the dissenting votes at yesterday evening's meeting. 

The Chinatown ban is the first such neighborhood-specific ordinance since adult-use retail cannabis sales were approved by California voters, via ballot Proposition 64. The law went into effect in January. 

Yesterday's vote was a rebuke of the SF Planning Commission's June 14 decision to reject any such proposal, citing the importance of equity among all neighborhoods. The Commission rejected the proposal with a 5-2 vote. 

Cannabis advocates have been critical of the legislation, arguing that the move could potentially inspire future neighborhood carveouts throughout the city, according to a report in the Examiner

Photo: The Green Cross/Yelp

Some members of the city's Chinese-American community have opposed efforts to open cannabis dispensaries throughout the city, describing cannabis as harmful and noting that it remains illegal under federal law. 

The impetus for the ban, however, stems from concerns surrounding gentrification and secondhand smoke from potential on-site cannabis use, according to a letter penned in April by Wing Hoo Leung, president of the Community Tenants Association (CTA).

District 3 Supervisor Aaron Peskin, who represents Chinatown, said he introduced the legislation as a response to constituent requests. 

"This legislation came directly from community leaders who live and work in Chinatown, and have extensive history in Chinatown leading various anti-gentrification efforts," Peskin aide Sunny Angulo told Hoodline via email last month.

There are currently no approved medical or recreational cannabis dispensaries in Chinatown, North Beach/Telegraph Hill, Fisherman's Wharf or Russian Hill.

Photo: Sparc/Yelp

“This is really about paying some respect to a community that wants it, that deserves it,” Peskin said at the board meeting. 

District 11 Supervisor Ahsha Safai expressed similar concerns, arguing that the move was not about restricting access to cannabis, but about protecting Chinatown. 

The ban also extends beyond Chinatown's borders, including portions of North Beach along Broadway and Columbus Avenue at Kearny Street.  

No existing proposals for the neighborhood appear to have been affected by the legislation, as a search of public records revealed no current dispensary applications in the works for any Chinatown addresses. The nearest proposed application is at 580 Green St. (at Columbus Ave.) in North Beach.