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Emotions Run High at Green Cross Zoning Meeting

Cara Vida and freeman HempEvolution.org

TO Faithful Supporters of Green Cross page one | page two

San Francisco, CA July 15, 2005 -- A tense, packed room of NIMBYs and medical cannabis supporters met to discuss the revocation of Green Cross permit at City Hall's Room 400, Friday morning. It was volatile meeting and emotions ran high on both sides. At times, it seemed like an accusatory free for all.

The Liberty Pub Many people from the neighborhood were organized by the Liberty Pub. All of them were unhappy. Their main complaints were "noxious, offensive odors coming from the dispensary", "cars, double-parking", "loud music going boom-boom from car stereos", "the atmosphere was street fair", "the club has attracted crime", "a prostitute was spotted in the alley", "they're dealing heroin in the alley", "it's a magnet for crime". One after another, people were telling horror stories of what became of their neighborhood.

One person who was very upset, who ran the 'Sheer Delight Hair Salon' said he had run out parking space. He said there was lack of respect for him and his clients and that they felt uncomfortable and remarked that the neighborhood had become, in his words, "ghetto". Before he closed his shop, Green Cross did everything possible to appease Greg, the owner, including the purchase of an air filter. It should be noted that Greg offered to sell his business to Green Cross.

The sound bytes from the residents were, "I'm thinking of the children"; "I am a supporter of medical marijuana, but...";

Patients lined up at the microphone to speak and for the most part were calm, did not resort to name calling and spoke very highly of the compassionate care they received from Green Cross. Many of the patients went so far as to say that this was the best club they had ever been to and that they felt safe patronizing Green Cross..

A young black man stated that many of the words spoken at the meeting were cloaked in racism.

The Planning Department Director, Dan Sider, had to instruct people in the room to stop clapping and booing as comments were made by both sides.

The Green Cross staff accused the patrons of the Liberty Bar of using the N-word to people patronizing the dispensary. They said that the bar patrons did $2,000 of damge to their club, which was repaid.

Dan Sider of the Planning Department said his concerns were: what the dispensary do to facilitate peace with the neighbors, the cars racing up Ames Alley and he sensed that, yes the character of the neighborhood.

Another hearing is scheduled at City Hall, Room 400; August 17th @ 9 AM.

[Cara Vida sez, "There's not enough medical marijuana in the world to get me to go to another one of these meetings."]