Washington State Senate Unanimously Approves GOP-Led Bill To Crack Down On Violent Robberies At Cannabis Shops
The measure approved on Tuesday would raise penalties for using a vehicle to damage or gain access to retail cannabis outlets. The legislation, which passed the Senate in a 49-0 vote, now heads to the House for consideration.
Under SB 6133, sponsored by state Senator Jim McCune (R), anyone who uses a car to smash and grab at a marijuana shop could be charged with either robbery 1 or 2 (class A or class B felony), according to McCune’s website.
The proposed legislation seeks to assist the state Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) in keeping statistics on break-ins by requiring marijuana outlets to report robberies within 10 days and tasking the Washington State Patrol with regular consultation with the LCB’s chief enforcement officer.
Robbery statistics best explain the need for this type of legislation as marijuana shops are experiencing an “epidemic” of costly robberies. In January 2022 alone, retail cannabis shops reported 29 armed, …