June 10, 2011

MINUTES
Friday, June 10, 2011 at 1:00 p.m.
City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 400
San Francisco, California

1. Call to order and roll call
The meeting was called to order by Task Force Vice Chair Maureen Burns at 1:02 p.m.
Present:
Maureen Burns – Vice Chair
Stephanie Tucker
David Goldman
Shona Gochenaur
Mary Schroeder
Martin Olive
Kevin Reed
Sarah Shrader
Patrick Goggin
Albert Blais
Erich Pearson
Michelle Aldrich

Absent Stewart Rhoads (Ill)
Raymond Gamley (Ill)

2. Approval of Minutes of May 20, 2011 meeting
There were no public comments. Minutes were approved.

3. Approval of Agenda for June 10, 2011 meeting
Discussion was held, no public comments were made, and the following were approved:
• Introduction of new item to include in the annual report, an item looking at clustering, sensitive uses, and saturation.
• Move item #10, Urge the BOS to require any collective or cooperative serving 10 or more patients in San Francisco to comply with Article 33 of the Health Code, regardless of their county of origin, until that law should change, to immediately after General Public Comments.

4. Public Comments
No general public comments were made.

5. Urge the Board of Supervisors to require any collective or cooperative serving 10 or more patients in San Francisco to comply with Article 33 of the Health Code, regardless of their county of origin, until that law should change.
Discussion was held. Public comments were made. Motion did not carry: 4 in favor, 4 oppose, 4 abstained votes.


6. New motion made that “The San Francisco Medical Cannabis Task Force urge the Board of Supervisors to require any collective or cooperative serving 10 or more patients as a delivery service in San Francisco to comply with Article 33 of the Health Code, regardless of their county of origin, until that law should change.”
Discussion was held adding the words “as a delivery service” to the previous agenda item. Public comments were made. Vote taken and passed with Kevin Reed and David Goldman to draft communication to the Board of Supervisors.


7. Clustering and saturation issues.
The Planning Commission has asked the Board of Supervisors to look into clustering and saturation issues in regards to dispensaries’ proximity from schools and community centers serving youths. Discussion was held, public comments were made. Vote taken and approved to move this issue forward to the Outreach and Legislative/Legal committees for further discussions and approved Stephanie Tucker to speak on behalf of the Task Force to press requests with the statement “The Medical Cannabis Task Force will look at any issues the Board of Supervisors direct us to and we are here to balance the interests of everybody, public and medical cannabis community, and that the Task Force is looking into this issue. We ask the Board of Supervisors not to make any final decisions until they hear and receive any recommendations from the Task Force.”

8. Definition of Medical Cannabis Dispensary, proposed amendments.
Discussion was held to extend the definition of MCD to include low income patients and compassionate care. Brent Saupe presented to the Task Force the concept of allowing more than 9 patients to grow up to 216 plants -- each patient is currently allowed to grow up to 24 plants, times 9 patients, as a cooperative, not MCD. Public comments were heard. The task force voted and approved to have Shona Gochenhaur create a detailed proposal/report to be sent to the Legislation/Legal committee by the end of June, for review in its July committee meeting.

9. Presentation by Patient Advocates: Compassion program affordability and selection, Community Chest.
Discussion held to replace item in the report to the Board of Supervisors regarding provision(s) for safe self-medication sites in public/quasi-public/commercial spaces, with compassionate care and affordability. Ten patient advocates presented or spoke on compassionate care.

10. Recess taken.

11. Review and approve candidates for committees
• Orlon Ryel resigned from the Patient Advocacy committee and the Outreach committee
• Gilbert Canedo presented himself to the Task Force to join the Veterans committee and removed himself for consideration for the committee.
• Marquis Ausby was approved as a member of the Patient Advocacy committee.

12. Update on website content
Discussion held and public comments made. Voted and approved giving Sarah Shrader authority to update and modified website contents.

13. Adjournment
Meeting adjourned at 4:01 p.m.

Minutes taken by Carol Lei