Board reinstates conditional-use requirement for medical cannabis dispensaries in parts of District 4

On April 21 the Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution imposing interim zoning controls to reinstate a conditional-use authorization requirement for medical cannabis dispensaries (MCDs) in the Irving, Judah, Noriega and Taraval Street neighborhood commercial districts in District 4.

Sponsor remarks explained the change corrects an unintended effect of a recent comprehensive code cleanup that altered ground-floor use definitions and would have allowed dispensaries to avoid conditional-use review. Supervisor Katy Tang said the measure restores the controls intended by a prior supervisor and that the conditional-use requirement does not ban MCDs but requires a public review process when an application is proposed.

The measure drew debate about citywide distribution of dispensaries. One supervisor urged broader citywide policy to avoid clustering of MCDs in certain neighborhoods; that supervisor said conditional use for new MCDs should be one tool but that access citywide is also important. Supporters said the controls were narrowly targeted to District 4 and intended to restore prior policy.

Roll call on the resolution produced nine ayes and two noes. Supervisors Mar and Avalos recorded no votes. The resolution was adopted and will operate as an interim zoning control for District 4 pending further planning work.