This hearing will discuss the current status of Cannabis Equity Licenses, including how many have been granted and how many applicants are still waiting for approval. It will also examine the ownership of dispensaries by equity applicants compared to non-equity applicants and consider a potential five-year pause on new licenses until equity representation in the market is sufficient.
Hearing to discuss the status of the number of Cannabis Equity Licenses that have been granted and the number of equity applicants currently awaiting approval; to examine the number of equity applicants who presently own and operate a Cannabis dispensary, what areas and how their numbers compare with non-equity applicants and the possibility of proposing a five year moratorium once the number of equity owned dispensaries are adequately represented in the market in comparison to non-equity operated dispensaries; and requesting the Office of Cannabis and Office of Economic and Workforce Development to report.
How it got here
The legislation originated from a need to assess the status of Cannabis Equity Licenses and the representation of equity applicants in the cannabis market in San Francisco.
California voters approved adult use cannabis through Proposition 64, prompting the establishment of the Office of Cannabis in San Francisco in 2017.
Supervisor Safai introduced a hearing request to discuss the status of Cannabis Equity Licenses and the potential for a five-year moratorium on new applications.
The hearing request was referred to the Office of Cannabis and the Office of Economic and Workforce Development for their input and reporting.
The committee continued the hearing to a later date, allowing for further discussion and input from relevant departments.
The legislation was filed, indicating it is still active but has not progressed to a final decision.
Reconstructed from attached documents & the official record