Rules Committee advances Medical Cannabis Task Force slate, resolves contested cultivation seat

The Rules Committee on May 6 forwarded the recommended Medical Cannabis Task Force slate to the full Board of Supervisors and resolved one contested seat after extended public testimony and debate.

Clerk Linda Wong told the committee there were 13 seats and 16 applicants for the advisory task force. Chair Supervisor David Campos described the task force as an advisory panel intended to guide the board through a ‘‘transitional period’’ for local, state and federal cannabis policy. The committee heard brief statements from many applicants and more than two dozen public endorsers representing dispensaries, patient groups and advocacy organizations.

Several applicants emphasized patient access, neighborhood relations, and operational safety. Joseph Eric Pearson, who was listed on the agenda as Joe/ Joseph Eric Pearson and identified himself as a cultivator and organizer with long experience in urban cultivation and accessibility compliance, was pitted against Stuart Rhodes for seat 11 (a cultivation/coalition seat). Supervisor (speaker 9) framed the committee’s top priority as access for people with disabilities, saying, "My number 1 concern is access. Equal and fair access." Supporters on both sides described the candidates’ relevant experience.

During deliberations the committee took two motions. The first motion advanced seats 1–10 and 12–13 (the working-group slate) to the full board; the committee took that motion without objection. For seat 11, supervisors debated either appointing one candidate or expanding the task force so both could serve. The committee approved Joseph Eric Pearson for seat 11 without objection. Chair Campos said his office would work with colleagues to pursue additional legislation to add seats so both candidates might serve in future.

The item generated heated public comment, including criticism from an applicant identified as Mr. Brown who urged a more commercialized licensing approach and made abrasive remarks about the working-group process. The committee did not adopt any policy changes at the hearing; it advanced the advisory appointments to the full board and committed to pursue potential changes to the task force’s composition by ordinance.

What’s next: The committee’s report will go to the full Board of Supervisors for confirmation. Chair Campos said staff would draft legislation to add additional seats so that contested candidates might both be accommodated if the Board approves a change.