Cannabis crimes are on the rise in Seattle

Washington state legalized weed in 2012 and things progressed slowly but surely. In 2020 there was a difficult turnaround. Since then, cannabis crimes in Seattle have skyrocketed, causing concern among business owners.

In the summer of 2022, which then-Mayor Jenny Durbin referred to as the “Summer of Love,” the city watched as protesters ransacked downtown and occupied a large park in a popular neighborhood. The area was declared a “free zone” and the mayor allowed protesters to occupy the neighboring police headquarters. A majority of the city council said the problem was the police and insisted on joining the “Defund the Policy” campaign.

Shortly afterwards, the police chief resigned, followed three years later by over 600 other officers. Crime has skyrocketed and the city center is struggling compared to other major cities. Another problem arising from the chaos? Crimes against cannabis pharmacies are becoming increasingly popular, with massive raids and thefts occurring in record numbers.

The trend is for groups of 2 to 6 people to steal a Kia and drive it through the storefront. Knowing they still have plenty of time before the police arrive, they loot products, look for cash and drive off in the spare car. Sometimes they visit two or three pharmacies a night. The damage to the building, the loss of product, and the time it takes to make repairs impact small business owners’ bottom lines.

“Marijuana stores in Washington saw a dramatic increase in robberies following the defund the police movement. Adult-use marijuana shops have taken advantage of credit union and armored vehicle cash pickup since the industry’s early days. It is the anti-police political movement that has caused today’s crisis. Record-breaking police staffing shortages and anti-persecution laws were the main causes of cannabis store robberies. We are soft targets for criminals.”

“The ability to accept credit cards would deter armed robberies because we wouldn’t have as much cash on hand. Thieves are looking for products and are not really getting much given the enormous costs of rebuilding destroyed stores. The remnants of the police are doing what they can. One obstacle is prosecutors and judges who are hesitant to lock up criminals, said Ian Eisbenberg, the owner of Uncle Ike Pharmacies.

RELATED: California or New York, where there’s the biggest marijuana mess

The region is facing a fentanyl crisis. With four months to go before the end of 2023, the number of illicit fentanyl deaths this year stood at 704, according to data from Seattle & King County Public Health on Thursday. It’s just eight fewer than in 2022, when there were a total of 712 fentanyl overdose deaths gave. In June, a majority of the City Council shocked the public by voting against enforcing a state drug law that would have allowed the city to prosecute people for using illegal drugs in public. Smash-and-grab crimes have only increased since then.

RELATED: Can Cannabis Help Seasonal Affective Disorder?

City Council member Sara Nelson and Seattle District Attorney Ann Davison have worked to turn the tide on the crime wave, but have been stymied by the existing City Council.

As local newspaper the Seattle Times reported that cannabis dispensary robberies hit a record high, business owners and consumers are frustrated.