San Francisco Set to Impose 3-Year Moratorium on New Cannabis Licenses

The San Fransisco, California Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted unanimously to place a three-year moratorium on new cannabis businesses, the San Fransisco Standard reports. The ban does not affect current applicants or operators. 

Supervisor Ahsha Safaí, the bill’s author, said the moratorium was needed due to oversaturation and competition from the illicit market. In San Francisco, there are about 30 licensed medical cannabis dispensaries, 31 adult-use retailers, and more than 100 additional applications in the pipeline.  

“It’s a pause, not a ban, and ultimately, we can revisit where this is in a few years.” — Safaí via the Standard  

Safaí has also acknowledged the anti-cannabis sentiment within the city’s Asian American communities over the potential impact of cannabis on children and other cultural and historical reasons.  

Final approval of the ban is still required, but it is expected to come next week. If given final approval, the law will take effect in 30 days and will sunset in 2027.  

San Francisco has long embraced cannabis culture, including the annual “420” celebration in Golden Gate Park.