Oakland riots after verdict in police shooting of Oscar Grant

Officer who shot dead unarmed African American cleared of murder but found guilty of involuntary manslaughter

View More Riot Videos >>

MPP Calls for National Boycott of Wal-Mart

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the nation’s largest marijuana policy reform organization called upon shoppers across the country to boycott Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., in order to protest the unjust...

Boycott, Read More >>

Alcohol vs

Cannabis

Part three in our series: Odam News visits SF dispensaries

Written by Jaime Galindo

Saturday, 10 June 2006

Ok, here’s the city where the cannabis movement began. San Francisco has dozens of medical cannabis dispensaries available to visit and purchase low grade to “one hitter quitter” type grade cannabis anywhere from 8 am to midnight.

I recently visited several to review the atmosphere and quality of their merchandise. I loved it and loved meeting the people who make it all possible.

Entrance to 208 Valencia - Oaksterdam News photo by Jaime Galindo

The US government says buying marijuana from tax-paying, job-creating, community-minded cannabis dispensaries is no better than buying from a tax-evading thug on a dark street corner.

That’s ridiculous, as anyone who goes to the regulated outlets in places like Oakland or San Francisco clearly knows. There are some great, good-hearted people taking a positive step forward, inside local and state governments that value compassion and democracy — and here’s what I found.

Grass Roots
1077 Post St., San Francisco
415-346-4338
10am-7pm 10-5pm Sun.
Accessibility: Van Ness BART station, Polk St. bus stop. Street parking.

Walk right in, have a seat if there’s a line and become mesmerized by the selections available on the menu here. Grass Roots reminded me of a hometown art gallery type space and setting. Very clean, well lit, and safe. Their mouth-watering buds are displayed in large, clear, air tight glass jars. I like the way they weigh your selection in front of you. This assures you get the weight you pay for. Grass Roots offers premium grades, high grades, oils, kief, hash, edibles and more.

Grass Roots collection - Oaksterdam News photos by Jaime Galindo

Good Fellows Smoke Shop
473 Haight St.
Open late 10-10pm 7 Days
415-255-1323
Accessibility: Haight St. bus stop. Street parking.

This was my favorite of them all, even though there’s no smoking. As I entered this fine establishment, I found myself in a cannabis connoisseur’s fantasy. Up high, they feature beautiful eastern hookahs. Below, all the San Francisco-made, intricately blown glassware you desire, from bongs to pipes. This smoke shop stocks it all. Eventually, I did make it to the dispensary portion of the shop, after picking out the most beautiful, blown glass bong I’ve ever owned to display at our new Oaksterdam News headquarters.

   Good Fellows also stores cannabis in glass jars and weighs the goods in front of you. It was so hard to make a selection that I had to try five. I got some Ingred, Victory, Rom, Mystic and Blueberry. Many sell the same names. Only few have the real deal. They have the real. You’ll want to take your time finishing a joint rolled with any of their top shelf strains. Good Fellows offers too much to list, so you need to stop by and see for yourself. They have the neon sign shown on the cover of this issue.

Purple Heart
1326 Grove corner of Divisadero
415-409-1002
9-9pm Mon-Thu, 9-10pm Fri-Sat, 12pm-6pm Sun.
Accessibility: Divisadero St. bus stop. Private parking.

Purple Heart is under new management.

   These guys are part of the Bay Area’s Safe Alternative Collective. The place was poorly managed before and this new collective is working hard to clean things up. The interior is pretty bare and limited, until these guys finish with their new redecoration. Meanwhile, I’d say their convenient parking lot still makes it worth a trip.

208 Valencia
208 Valencia
Open late 8am-10pm 7 days
415-621-0131
Accessibility: 16th St. BART off of Mission, Plenty of street parking.

From the street, 208 Valencia appears to be an ordinary home town style caf?/sandwich bistro; but once you are verified, a secret door opens. Inside you will find it small but cozy. I would say it’s very reminiscent of a Dutch coffeeshop. Too bad there’s no smoking. The establishment, also in the Bay Area’s Safe Alternative Collective, is clean, well-lit, and feels very safe. Not to mention a lot of great food to eat — actual meals, not just snacks.

   I would love to sample lunch items while I sample some of their high grades.

Hopenet
223 9th St.
415-863-4399
12-7pm Mon-Sat
Accessibility: Civic Center BART station, Howard St. bus stop. Street parking.

Wow! This is a high-end cannabis dispensary. Most patients I saw during my visit were in pressed, tucked, collared shirts.

   Nothing but the best at HopeNet; from high-end strains to hash, kief, chocolates — you name it! They even have a small outdoor garden you can smoke in and an indoor smoke room similar to a nice, cozy living room. These fine folk maintain the same level of strength and determination in their work for ending the war on cannabis. Even after being raided by US agents they continue to press ahead, only stronger. Hopenet is a “must see” when visiting SF.

Happy Days
607 Divisadero St
415-359-9927
12-10pm Mon-Thu 12-12 Fri-Sat 11-5pm Sun
Accessibility: Divisadero St. bus stop. Street parking.

This place has a strong hip hop feel and scene. I personally didn’t feel comfortable here; too small and crowded. Some of the selections were over-priced. I don’t know what else to say, so let’s move on.

Alternative Patients Care
953 Mission # 40
415-618-0680
Hours:12-6 Mon - Fri, 11-5 Sat
Accessibility: Plenty of street parking.

APC has over a dozen strain varieties available, from sativas to indicas, edibles, concentrates, and a small selection of clones are also available.

   Everything is organic and soil grown. Currently there is no smoking, but soon APC will open a patient lounge in the same clean, safe building so patients can relax and enjoy their selection. I look forward to stopping by and checking out the new addition. The APC staff was professional and compassionate. They even provide medicine to over 30 patients who are in desperate need and can’t afford their medicine. Some call themselves compassionate caregivers, but APC lives up to that claim.

Sanctuary
669 O’Farrell
415-885-4420
12-8pm 7 Days 365 days a year
Accessibility: Civic Center BART, #38 to Geary St. bus stop. Street parking

Sanctuary is my other favorite dispensary. Talk about healthy premium grade clones available on hand and dozens more you can special order from an extensive collection. Each strain in the catalog is meticulously described, education seems to be their niche. Want organic cannabis? Sanctuary has Ak-47, Ak-48, Cinderella 99, Citral, Grand Daddy Purple, Hawaiian Maui Wowie, Hawaiian Snow, Hindu Kush, Jack Flash, Hog, Master Kush, MK Ultra, Mother’s finest, NYC Diesel, Mango, Eraser Head, Pineapple Punch, to name just a few!

   Hash is another specialty here, as seen in our cover photo. Sanctuary has some of the most potent hash I’ve tried, like the Train Wreck and Diesel hash I got to taste using their vaporizer. It’s a unique experience. The staff is extremely educated on the product line. Sanctuary staffers will give you personal attention, take you around and tell you what type and where things came from, and many other details of the production and proper use of high quality cannabis. I’ll see you guys next time. Thanks for your hospitality.

Sneak peek at the new Green Cross location

“We’ve been working very hard to obtain a permit to provide our patients with a New ADA compliant, Safe & Professional pharmacy located at 2701 Leavenworth Street. Here is a peak inside our new “potential” home,” almost finished. It may be a good time to start writing considerate and encouraging letters to planning department case worker “Aaron Starr” ( This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ) Case # 2006.0455D to ensure that the city has a file of supportive San Francisco citizens as we enter the Planning Department’s July 13, 2006 Discretionary Review Hearing on the The Green Cross application. I will keep you updated as we move forward, and please c/c me on any letters you may write.

“Thanks again for all your support.” — Kevin Reed

Jaime Galindo
		About the author:
		Managing editor for Oaksterdam News
	Read More >>

Related Articles:

Last Updated ( Sunday, 20 August 2006 )

< Prev		Next >

[ Back ]