There’s a growing trend in Kennewick crime: home invasion robberies of medical marijuana patients. There are an estimated 100,000 medical marijuana patients in Washington and many of them grow their medicine themselves. Because of that, they’re often targeted by thieves.
Since medical marijuana was legalized in 2008, more patients are reporting their pot’s been stolen. Legally, patients or their service providers (the people who grow for patients who can’t) aren’t allowed to sell the product, trade it or even give it away. But police said they know that happens anyway. The problem is, criminals know that, too.
“These people become victims, become targets of crimes themselves because why spend the time growing it when you can break into somebody’s house and steal it,” said Kennewick Police Sergeant Ken Lattin.
Under state law, medical marijuana patients can have up to 15 plants and up to 24 ounces of ‘useable’ cannabis. At Hippies, owner Tim Adams said lots of his customers are patients.
“I think it’s sad that the medical marijuana patients are targeted because they are ill and they’re growing for a reason,” Adams said.
– Read the entire article at KNDU TV.
