SAN FRANCISCO (Map, News) - Michael Welch will soon have the distinct honor of acquiring the very first permit to legally operate a medical marijuana dispensary in San Francisco.

His store, Sanctuary, at 600 O’Farrell St., is across the street from an electronics repair shop and near a Subaru auto shop and a hair salon.

When federal drug enforcement agents raided three medical marijuana dispensaries in San Mateo last year, county officials responded to the outcry from local cannabis patients by calling for guidelines to distribute the controversial medication.

SAN FRANCISCO -- State Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown says he will challenge a recent appellate court decision that struck down California's guidelines on medical marijuana possession and cultivation, leaving patients and police wondering how much weed is too much.

Mercy Housing of San Francisco located at 172 6th Street, has evicted several residents for growing medical marijuana. Mercy housing is violating several peoples human rights. We would like you to join us tomorrow at the San Francisco Board of Supervisors Meeting at 2:30 PM.

Federal agents smashed the front door to the Peninsula’s only cannabis club Wednesday morning, seizing marijuana and shutting down the downtown dispensary.

Commander Mark Wyss of the San Mateo County Narcotics Task Force confirmed that his agency assisted in the 6 a.m. raid at Holistic Solutions at 216 Second St.

Federal agents raided an Oakland office building Wednesday morning, part of an apparent sting of marijuana growing operations across the Bay Area.

A DEA spokesperson could not comment on details of the warrant served at 3333 Telegraph, near 35th Street, where a sign out front reads "Digitized Medical Records," except to say it was part of an ongoing narcotics investigation.

With homosexual marriage taken care of, Assemblyman Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, who thrice sponsored legislation to legalize same-sex marriage, has turned his attention to marijuana.

(05-11) 19:26 PDT -- Ever since California voters became the first in the nation to legalize medical marijuana in 1996, the state has faced unyielding opposition from the federal government, which insists it has the power to prohibit a drug it considers useless and dangerous.

OAKLAND — Residents sitting on Oakland's advisory boards and commissions give input to policy makers on everything from how to spend ballot-measure money to what type of law enforcement strategies the Police Department should use.

They come from all over Oakland. They are of all ages and backgrounds. And, according to a recent opinion from City Attorney John Russo's office, they can only be appointed by one person: Mayor Ron Dellums.

Medical cannabis dispensaries will have until January to receive a final operating permit from the Department of Public Health, under a deadline extension approved by San Francisco supervisors Tuesday.

This would be the second deadline extension for the dispensaries, which were originally to have completed the process by January 2007. There are 29 dispensaries still working to receive permits and one club has received final approval, according to the city's planning department.