URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v15/n732/a03.html
Newshawk: http://www.drugsense.org/donate.htm
Votes: 0
Pubdate: Thu, 31 Dec 2015
Source: Trentonian, The (NJ)
Copyright: 2015 The Trentonian
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Website: http://www.trentonian.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1006
Author: L.A. Parker
LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA LEADS TO WORRIES OVER POT HEISTS
Initial reports of the burglary of a Madras, Ore. marijuana dispensary forced a check up on several local cannabis smoking friends.
With all present and accounted for, time allowed for an investigation about pot theft.
As legal cannabis dispensaries, many identified as medical marijuana outlets, dot the U.S. landscape in several states, it’s understandable that stoners, under the influence, would hatch ideas about marijuana heists.
A universal joke involves alleged great Western World game changers conceived under hazed influence that sound cockamamie the morning after.
Imagine primo smokers Cheech and Chong or any of your potsmoking friends blazed and in full dream about breaking and entering a pot store then walking away with a motherlode of premium puffage. Far out bud man. Actually, marijuana legalization has created a ‘pottage’ industry of sorts as robbers have responded with more chutzpah than Bonnie and Clyde.
The Madras incident occurred after closing which meant a minimal heist as most laws require dispensary owners to lock marijuana products in safes.
It’s not like a burglar or robber in love with Mary Jane can just break in and walk off with major stashes of sinsemilla.
However, real danger exists during business hours as dispensaries face the potential for armed robbery.
These incidents are definitely tied to cash as dispensaries have money on hand.
Here’s why as explained in an Airsafe.com online article.
Dispensaries have cash on hand “due to the fact that the purchase, sale, and consumption of marijuana is still considered illegal by the federal government, and traditionally the federal government has made it very difficult for banks, credit card companies, and other financial institutions to work with marijuana-related businesses.”
The governmental refusal to legalize marijuana puts at risk employees working in legal pot dispensaries.
Federal government officials should support legislation that legalizes marijuana use and develop strategies that permit the banking industry to allow access for marijuana businesses.
Without such forward thinking, which should have been in place prior to dispensary openings, marijuana outlet employees will face constant danger.
Twenty-three states and the District of Columbia currently have laws legalizing weed in some form.
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom