After a huge increase in armed robberies at local pot stores, and numerous deaths, the state cannabis industry says it is desperate for help.
‘High’ frequency in armed robberies at pot shops in Puget Sound region
The Craft Cannabis Coalition, which represents more than 50 cannabis retail stores in Washington, is asking state and county level leaders for help after an uptick in armed robberies of pot shops. Three fatalities were connected to pot shop robberies in Western Washington last week alone.
Adán Espino Jr., executive director of the coalition, says an informal count shows there have been 77 robberies since January. The group sent a letter to legislators in Olympia, as well as officials in King County, and other local elected officials and law enforcement leaders, asking for urgent action.
“We need help, and we need help now,” Espino told KIRO Newsradio. “How many more people need to be shot and killed before we take action?”
“It’s really hard to run a business when you have the prospect of being robbed almost any time,” he added. “These robberies, they have been spiking very recently, of course, but they’re getting incredibly violent.”
Espino says it’s time to change the longstanding issue that makes cannabis retailers sitting targets.
“If we weren’t dealing exclusively in cash, I’m confident in saying that would solve the bulk of our problems,” he said.
He says federal lawmakers have refused to take…
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After a huge increase in armed robberies at local pot stores, and numerous deaths, the state cannabis industry says it is desperate for help.
‘High’ frequency in armed robberies at pot shops in Puget Sound region
The Craft Cannabis Coalition, which represents more than 50 cannabis retail stores in Washington, is asking state and county level leaders for help after an uptick in armed robberies of pot shops. Three fatalities were connected to pot shop robberies in Western Washington last week alone.
Adán Espino Jr., executive director of the coalition, says an informal count shows there have been 77 robberies since January. The group sent a letter to legislators in Olympia, as well as officials in King County, and other local elected officials and law enforcement leaders, asking for urgent action.
“We need help, and we need help now,” Espino told KIRO Newsradio. “How many more people need to be shot and killed before we take action?”
“It’s really hard to run a business when you have the prospect of being robbed almost any time,” he added. “These robberies, they have been spiking very recently, of course, but they’re getting incredibly violent.”
Espino says it’s time to change the longstanding issue that makes cannabis retailers sitting targets.
“If we weren’t dealing exclusively in cash, I’m confident in saying that would solve the bulk of our problems,” he said.
He says federal lawmakers have refused to take…
