News » Do Dispensaries Attract Crime? Police say no.





Last January, police in Denver, Colorado compared the robbery and burglary rate for storefront medical marijuana dispensaries for the first time. Their conclusion was that the crime rate for MMJ businesses was comparable to that of traditional pharmacies.

Now it is being reported in The Gazette newspaper that the Colorado Springs police department has found the same results when analyzing dispensaries in their jurisdiction. Over 18 months, there were 41 reports of criminal activity at dispensaries compared to 797 robberies at businesses and houses. Sgt. Darrin Abbink says that while the study isn’t 100% conclusive, it does put a shadow of doubt on the correlation of dispensaries to crime. He says, “It’s all going to depend on what the person is looking to steal, I don’t think the data really supports (dispensaries) are more likely to be targeted at this point. There’s not really enough information yet.”

With the Colorado Springs Planning Commission voting on proposed changes to zoning rules this week for medical marijuana dispensaries, these findings could play a part in their decision. The proposals would ban dispensaries in residential zones, as well as 400 feet from schools and drug treatment facilities.

[source CBS 4 Denver]

Tags: Colorado, Colorado City, crime, Denver, medical, police