[420 Girl]

Those hoping to fill doctor recommendations for medical marijuana will soon have the chance to join a collective in South San Francisco on Utah Avenue after the Planning Commission approved the plans with a split vote Thursday.

Plans to open a medical marijuana collective in 1,000 square feet of a larger building at 175 Utah Ave. were approved by the South San Francisco Planning Commission Thursday in a 4-3 vote with commissioners Wallace Moore, Pradeep Gupta and John Prouty dissenting. The hope is for the collective to open by the end of the year. It will be reviewed after six months, a year and 18 months.

Vice Chair Prouty noted this was not a use the city sought out, but did fill a need for those suffering from ailments such as cancer. He noted the police department met many of his concerns, but spent much time questioning the application in hopes of educating the public.

Prouty explained his no vote saying the proposal had enough support to pass, but he wanted to notify the City Council that there still were concerns.

A new nonprofit, called Island of Health, will run the facility, explained attorney Scot Candell, who represented the group. About 100 patients are expected to be served resulting in no more than a few pounds on site at one time, Candell said.

South San Francisco created its own regulations in 2006 for medical marijuana dispensaries. Under the city regulations, a collective to be located more than 500 feet away from a residential neighborhood and have no more than 10 patients per primary caregiver, according to the city’s ordinance. The location is more than a half mile from a residential area.

Collectives in cities that have similar regulations usually run smoothly, said Candell.

Despite this, concerns arose from commissioners and business neighbors to the proposal, some were lessened by the security plan which prohibits signage, advertisement of the collective or visibility of the marijuana.

A security plan designed in coordination with the police department includes: a metal detector, buzz-in door leading to patient’s room, a minimum of one manager and one security guard on the premises at all times, a number of interior and exterior security cameras, storage safe and window security, according to a staff report by Associate Planner Billy Gross. Also, marijuana will be delivered in small amounts in unmarked vehicles as to not draw attention, explained Candell.

Medical marijuana was legalized in 1996 when California voters passed the Compassionate Use Act. It is, however, still illegal federally resulting in doctor recommendations for the product rather than prescriptions. On Jan. 1, 2004, Senate Bill 420, the Medical Marijuana Program, specified the extent of the law.

In 2005, South City had an application to open a marijuana dispensary in the city. Instead of a vote, the city placed a moratorium on the idea until rules were approved by the City Council in 2006.


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