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Supervisors accept amendments to cannabis commission charter amendment, continue item after public debate
Summary
The Rules Committee accepted amendments to a proposed San Francisco charter amendment to create a Cannabis Commission, including labor representation and workforce language, heard extensive public comment from industry, labor and equity applicants, and continued the item for further processing due to substantive changes.
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors Rules Committee on June 20 accepted substantive amendments to a charter amendment that would create a Cannabis Commission and a Department of Cannabis, then continued the item for further procedural review.
Sponsor Supervisor Sandy Feuer said legalization offered the city an opportunity to build a new cannabis industry with an equity and social-justice lens, and presented two substantive changes: replacing a low-income-designated seat with a labor representative for delivery-service workers and clarifying that one seat requires experience in workforce and economic development. Feuer described a proposed nine-member commission with seats for equity program business owners, organized labor, manufacturers, public-health expertise, workforce/economic-development experience and a youth representative.
The committee heard extensive public comment opposing and supporting the proposal. Retail industry speakers, including Johnny Delaplane and Brandon Brown of the Cannabis Retailers Alliance, urged the committee to table the amendment until next year, citing shifting state rules, startup costs and concerns about added oversight creating duplicative reviews and higher costs for operators. Jim Lazar of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce similarly urged improving existing steering structures rather than enshrining a new commission in the charter.
Labor and community advocates spoke in favor. Tony DeLorio of Teamsters Joint Council 7 and Jennifer Garcia of UFCW Local 648 argued that labor seats would help secure living wages and benefits and protect workers as the industry develops. Equity applicants and other speakers asked the board to consider timing and staffing of the Office of Cannabis and to ensure the commission’s design supports—not hinders—equity applicants.
Deputy City Attorney John Givner advised the committee that substantive amendments to a charter amendment trigger a continuance. The committee approved Feuer’s amendments on a motion by Supervisor Yi, accepted them without objection, and continued the item to the next Rules Committee meeting for the required follow-up and fiscal review.
What’s next: The charter amendment as amended will be continued for further committee consideration and any required fiscal and procedural review before moving toward a Board vote and, if approved, placement on the November 6, 2018 ballot.
