The 420 Minute: Special Edition November 22, 2017

The 420 Minute: Special Edition November 22, 2017

By Sarah Mulcahy

Alright, folks. This is a special edition of The 420 Minute. Earlier this month we reported on the spree of recent crimes at area pot shops. Last night, Tuesday November 21, yet another armed robbery took place at a local weed store.

Starbuds Cannabis on E. Francis Avenue joined the growing list of pot shops being robbed or vandalized in Spokane. Unfortunately, a female budtender was shot during the incident. She was taken to Sacred Heart Medical Center with serious but non-life threatening injuries.

Though police searched the surrounding area the suspect is still at large. The suspect was described as a thin male approximately 6 feet tall, reportedly wearing a ski mask and dark clothing. It is unclear at this time if the suspect got away with any product or cash.

Light a candle, say a prayer, smoke a bowl, however you do it, but let’s show some emotional and spiritual support for all the employees at Starbuds as well as the family members and friends of the woman who got shot while trying to do her job.

This most recent incident in a long line of incidents brings to the forefront the ridiculous notion of a business, actually an entire industry, being denied the benefits and security of a bank simply because of the F in FDIC. Until the federal government, at the very least, decriminalizes marijuana, we will continue to see shootings like the one last night in north Spokane and the one in Cheney in September, which claimed the life of a budtender.

Forcing I-502 retailers to operate on a cash-only basis (for a product that you know they are selling thousands of dollars worth per day!!) while maintaining large amounts of cash on the premises is like ignoring your friend Harvey’s aggressive "dating" tactics while setting him up with your sister!

The federal government is just as liable as the guy who pulled the trigger. If we continue to treat the marijuana industry like a criminal enterprise then the real criminals will continue to take advantage and we will see more honest, hardworking, law-abiding citizens injured or killed.

That’s the Special Edition of The 420 Minute. Keep calm and smoke on.

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