King County Council has voted for a cannabis safety task force to aid in the prevention of crime targeting marijuana businesses. The legislation was sponsored by King County Councilmembers Reagan Dunn and Jeanne Kohl-Welles and passed by the King County Council on Tuesday. Approximately 70 robberies have been recorded at cannabis retailers across the state of Washington since the beginning of 2022, according to the Washington Cannabusiness Association (WACA). A dedicated cannabis safety taskforce will be able to focus on keeping our local communities safe from the pattern of armed robberies targeting cannabis stores and manufacturers across the region,” Dunn said in a statement. “This legislation sends a strong message that King County plans to hold those committing these crimes responsible for their actions.” The high rate of crime in cannabis stores has been widely attributed to federal banking regulations on cannabis sales, which has resulted in cannabis shops operating as cash-only businesses. This makes dispensaries and other cannabis businesses tempting targets for robberies.
Marijuana Moment, Marijuana Moment, 05/19/2022 09:44:00