San Francisco Board of Supervisors approves law to create new Cannabis Event Permit that promotes safe consumption and sales at temporary events
SAN FRANCISCO — Cannabis sales and consumption at temporary events can now be permitted in San Francisco following the passage of a new law authored by Supervisor Rafael Mandelman at Tuesday’s meeting of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.
“San Francisco is a city that has long embraced community festivals and gatherings as well as the cannabis industry,” said Mandelman. “This ordinance is an exciting opportunity for us to lead the way on cannabis events, and to do so in a way that supports local businesses and puts public safety first.”
On January 1st, a state law giving cities in California the authority to approve temporary cannabis events, known as AB 2020, went into effect. With the passage of this ordinance, San Francisco becomes one of the first cities in the state to pass legislation to locally implement AB-2020.
The ordinance creates a process for San Francisco’s Office of Cannabis to permit regulated events that support local small businesses and the local economy while also prioritizing public and consumer safety and preventing youth access. It does not approve any specific event, but rather creates a framework by which events may seek authorization for legal cannabis sales and consumption.
“Permitting cannabis at temporary events allows the city to maintain its commitment to public safety while creating opportunity for legal and licensed operators,” said Eugene Hillsman, Acting Director of the Office of Cannabis. “At these events, consumers will have a real alternative to the unregulated market.”
The pilot program that is a part of this legislation will allow the city to ramp up cannabis events activity thoughtfully, permitting only a select group of pre-existing events. Events that could qualify during the pilot period include 4/20 in 2020, Outside Lands, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, How Weird Street Faire, Clusterfest, Carnaval, San Francisco Pride and Folsom Street Fair.
“The city has been permitting large and small events for decades and this will allow us to bring events that would otherwise feature an illegal cannabis component into a regulated space,” Mandelman said. “This builds on our existing event framework and provides a process for event producers to create safe spaces where legal retailers can sell tested, safe and legal product to age appropriate attendees instead of allowing illicit and unregulated sales to continue.”
