State treasurer urging Congress to go ‘Protected Banking Act’ – KIRO 7 Information Seattle

Pot retailer robberies are a lethal reminder of the dangers of promoting hashish, even right here within the first state to legalize marijuana.

The difficulty despatched the State Treasurer to the opposite Washington this week, lobbying Congress to lastly go the “SAFE Banking Act.”

This all comes right down to cash. Due to the federal banking legal guidelines concerning what the feds nonetheless think about an unlawful drug, this a money ONLY enterprise.

Crooks know that.

Final week, Dockside Hashish in SODO was one in all a minimum of three pot retailers within the Puget Sound area robbed in a single day.

It’s a danger that everybody within the authorized enterprise of promoting hashish on this state faces, violent thieves principally searching for the one factor they are often certain is there, money.

“Look, this can be a $1.4 billion business within the state of Washington,” stated State Treasurer Mike Pellicciotti.

He says the crooks are doing what they at all times have.

“Clearly, robbers go the place the money is,” he stated.

And the way. This operating tally of robberies stored by the proprietor of Uncle Ike’s exhibits simply what number of pot retailers within the Puget Sound area have been hit within the first three months of 2022 alone.

“Because the begin of the 12 months, Washington State has seen one theft a day,” stated Pellicciotti.

This week, Pellicciotti traveled to the Nation’s Capital to foyer U. S. Senators to observe the Home’s lead and go a ‘SAFE banking’ regulation to permit for pot retailers to legally deposit their cash.

“My view is come hell or excessive water, this must go this 12 months,” stated Pellicciotti. “If we will get money out of the system the place we will transfer to a banking system, we will forestall these robberies from taking place.”

It received’t are available time for many who work at Euphorium Hashish in Covington.

“It’s arduous,” stated Lindsey Evans, Euphorium co-owner. “It’s very mentally taxing on lots of people.”

A violent takeover there Thursday night time led to an worker taking pictures and killing the would-be robber. The toll of all of it seen within the gentle of the subsequent day.

“We run companies identical to another enterprise house owners,” stated Ryan Evans, Euphorium co-owner. “We are able to’t simply shut up store and go dwelling and go get new jobs. We’ve got to proceed to do enterprise. And so, it’s a necessity to guard our staff one of the best we will.”

State Treasurer Pellicciotti insists Congress holds the important thing to creating the job of everybody within the hashish enterprise safer.

We’ll keep on this story and allow you to know if Congress acts.

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