669 O’Farrell St.
Mon-Sun 12-8pm
415-885-4420
S.F. CA 94109

Sanctuary takes the seventh
place prize in this year's competition.

Sanctuary’s trademark slogan “ on earth as it is in heaven” is truly the perfect way to define this patient oriented, patient owned co-op. Located in San Francisco’s famous Tenderloin, Sanctuary is not just a business revitalizing a neighborhood, it is also a community out reach. Sponsoring groups such as AIDS Housing Alliance, donating to Veterans Affairs, Neighborhood Watch Association, as well as offering assistance to low-income and terminally ill patients. High quality medicine, a relaxed environment, and welcoming staff is a pale description of what sanctuary has to offer.

Once you pass through the black iron gate you enter an intimate space with gold stars adorning the sky blue ceiling with delicate crystals hanging down to the plush red velvet drapes leading to a glass case of freedom. Your eyes lock on the inviting counter display of plexi cubes hand decorated to create a three-dimensional menu. Vibrant contemporary art jumps out at you from behind the counter immediately directing your attention to a cluster of healthy clones being carefully tended to. The lovable watchdog slash mascot Toro stretches out beneath a breathtaking fresh water fish tank.

Michael Welch founder of Sanctuary moved from east coast to the bay area as he was struggling with the physical and mental hardships of being HIV positive, and had already tried well over thirty different FDA approved cocktails prescribed by his physicians. None of which gave him the strength to live a relatively normal life. He discovered cannabis alleviated some of his pain however, even with a proper doctor’s recommendation cannabis consumption is still widely outlawed whether or not its medical. He decided to move to San Francisco for a various reasons, most importantly his health, and the amount of support and strength he developed made him want to do the same for others. He gives back that same pain alleviant and strength to his patients everyday.

And Sanctuary shows their patient appreciation with a little help from some of their friends, and their names are: Blue Dream, Banana Kush, Ms. Packman. Bubba Kush, and let's not forget The S*** just to name a few. The number one thing that sets apart Sanctuary from so many other clubs is their patient focus, and it shows through their medicine. They offer flowers, hash, kief, edibles and not to mention some of the best hard candy I’ve ever tried if I do say so myself. All high quality at compassionate prices. And for many if of their low-income, or terminally ill patients they work with them so they can give them their medication for little of next to nothing.

Recently the city demanded they build a bathroom which will cut their already modest space in half, however the team has taken this as a good challenge and vowed that space will not affect the reason why they are there. Michael Welch and the whole crew at Sanctuary are the kind of people who drive this movement and give a voice to many who cannot speak for themselves. They definetly are a prime example of what a dispensary should be, and should be modeled after. So if you didn’t know now you do, and you should go experience this kind of compassion for yourself.