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Lower Haight merchants and residents tell commission outreach was insufficient for proposed dispensary
Summary
Two Lower Haight residents told the commission a medical marijuana dispensary certificate transfer on the 400 block of Haight Street lacked sufficient outreach, cited nearby John Muir Elementary and crime history, and requested staff follow up; commissioners asked staff to work with the speakers.
Several Lower Haight residents and merchants used the public-comment period to press the commission and staff to investigate outreach and neighborhood impacts of a pending medical marijuana dispensary certificate transfer on the 400 block of Haight Street.
What speakers said: Matt Osborne said the neighborhood (between Haight and Fillmore) has long struggled with drug-related crime and that the community had not been adequately informed about the dispensary application. He said outreach by the applicant was inadequate and that a local elementary school is located about 500—600 feet away; he described the issue as "a matter of community health."
Brian Brooks, a 20-year resident, said a flyer posted May 19 prompted the community to organize: within two weeks they collected 60 signatures and secured opposition from 13 of 17 businesses on the block. Brooks disputed outreach claims made by the applicant (identified in testimony as "Spark") and urged the commission to facilitate dialogue between the community and the applicant. "The community had no idea this was happening," he said.
Response and next steps: The chair thanked the speakers and told them staff would follow up and work with the community. No formal action on the dispensary was taken at the meeting; both commenters left contact information and asked for commission staff engagement.
