Title
A MOTION requesting the King County executive establish a cannabis business security task force to develop strategies to prevent criminal activity targeting cannabis businesses and address security concerns at cannabis businesses and to provide a report.
Body
WHEREAS, King County has experienced an increase in criminal activity, including armed robbery, targeting cannabis businesses over the last year, and
WHEREAS, according to the Washington Cannabusiness Association, roughly eighty robberies have been recorded at cannabis retailers across the state of Washington since the beginning of 2022, and
WHEREAS, federal law prohibits cannabis related businesses from accessing traditional banking services, forcing these businesses to operate on a cash-only basis and making them a target for criminals, and
WHEREAS, while King County has traditionally allocated its portion of cannabis excise tax revenue collected by the state in accordance with RCW 69.54.540 to law enforcement activities by the King County sheriff's office, in 2020, the executive proposed, and the council approved, redirecting cannabis excise tax revenues away from the sheriff's office and toward community-based programs within the department of local services and the department of community and human services, and
WHEREAS, criminal activity targeting cannabis businesses impacts the broader community, and
WHEREAS, a coordinated cannabis-business-security effort is required to prevent crimes against cannabis businesses and to ensure the safety and security of communities across King County;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT MOVED by the Council of King County:
A. The council requests the King County executive address the recent increase in criminal activity targeting cannabis businesses across King County by establishing a cannabis business security task force to develop strategies to prevent that criminal activity and to prepare a report.
B. The task force should consist of representatives, including...
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