On the panel put together by the State Liquor and Cannabis Board was Alden Linn, owner of World of Weed in Tacoma, who says they’ve gone above and beyond when it comes to both regulations and security but that they had a “false sense of security” before one of their workers was killed by armed robbers. “Instead of one security officer, I always have two,” Linn says, “We were just overrun by four individuals, two that took out the first guard and two that came into the store, fired a shot and then, ultimately, murdered Jordan Brown.” So Linn and other owners pitched ideas, like part of the 47% they pay in state taxes go toward bolstering security and official safety trainings for employees.
They also talked about the SAFE Banking Act, which is again stalled in the U.S. Senate, but which could remove much of the cash that has to be held on-site because they can’t use federally-regulated banks. One member of the panel says it’s not pot prohibitionists holding up the bill. It’s other cannabis advocates, who they say want comprehensive federal reform, so they fight against incremental changes, like the SAFE Banking Act. They say that’s led Democratic Majority Leader, Chuck Schumer, to take the Act out of other bills, including the latest, must-pass defense spending bill, which they say would have guaranteed its passage. Some in the discussion also point out that the SAFE Banking Act is no guarantee credit card companies will start to work with them, but they say it is another step toward reassurance for financial institutions that they won’t be brought up on federal racketeering charges simply because they chose to work with businesses made legal in some states.
Local leaders are also calling for action to improve safety at marijuana establishments.
King County Council member, Reagan Dunn, introduced a motion to ask the County Executive to put together a task force with the Sheriff’s and Prosecutor’s offices, retailers and community members to figure out what they need to help law enforcement to cut the number of these dangerous robberies.
Dunn says the shops are seen as an easy target since they’re all-cash businesses, so he wants to send a message of zero-tolerance. He says stiffer penalties, including the threat of federal prison, would help as added deterrents.
In addition, Dunn’s motion calls for an analysis of the decision to pull nearly $5 million in marijuana tax money from the Sheriff’s department budget last year. Dunn wants to know if that was a wise policy decision considering the current increase in violent robberies.
Dunn also says he wants more cooperation among law enforcement agencies, which he says has been proven to get more accomplished. He says deputies being assigned to establish relationships with specific cannabis retailers, passing by them a few times a day and even parking outside them while they fill out their police reports could be an added presence that keeps armed robbers away.
