Board pauses new storefront cannabis permits pending review, adds sunset and controller report

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors on June 6 passed an ordinance on first reading to pause acceptance of new storefront cannabis retail permit applications, and adopted sponsor Supervisor Ahsha Safaie's amendments that add an independent controller's review and a built-in sunset date for the moratorium.

Safaie, who introduced the ordinance, said the measures respond to safety and market concerns raised by equity operators and storefront proprietors. "This industry cannot bank. This industry cannot get access to capital. This industry is cash heavy," Safaie said, describing frequent violent break-ins and robberies that have targeted cannabis businesses. He said the pause will allow the Office of Cannabis to clear a backlog — nearly 100 equity applications and about 37 legacy businesses including storefronts that began…