Pubdate: Mon, 20 Aug 2007
Source: San Francisco Chronicle (CA)
Page: D - 1
Contact:  2007 Hearst Communications Inc.
Website: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/388
Authors: Phillip Matier and Andrew Ross
Note: Relevant part of a longer column.
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Marijuana - Medicinal)

HISTORIC HIGH

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors is moving to designate the 
city's first pot club as a historic landmark.

Supervisor Bevan Dufty introduced a measure this past week to give 
the old Cannabis Buyers Club (now the Compassionate Care Clinic) at 
194 Church St. a place in San Francisco history - right up there with 
the likes of Coit Tower, the Palace Hotel and City Hall.

The club, which is in Dufty's District Eight, "in many ways was the 
birthplace of the medical marijuana movement in the city," the supervisor said.

True - but the real play here is about getting out from under the 
city's disability access rules.

The club is located on the second floor of a building with no 
elevator and therefore is inaccessible by wheelchair.

If the club wants to stay in business, it will need have an elevator 
installed, something the landlord doesn't want to do.

If the club closes, the Castro and its large population of AIDS 
patients will be out one of the neighborhood's two pot dispensaries.

But if the building is designated historic, then disability rules 
don't apply and there's no legal requirement for an elevator.

Problem solved.

Well, almost.

"It's outrageous," fumed Dufty colleague Supervisor Michela 
Alioto-Pier, who herself is in a wheelchair.

"If they think the business should be held in such high esteem, then 
make it a museum or put a plaque up on the wall, but don't put the 
rights of one group over the civil rights of another," Alioto-Pier said.

"I'm sorry she feels that way," Dufty said, "but this was a tough 
situation and this was the best approach I could figure out."

Faced with choosing between these two politically correct factions - 
medical marijuana advocates and the disabled - the Board of 
Supervisors punted. It's giving the club an extra six months to get 
its act together.

Meanwhile, the historic designation process continues.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake