CANNABIS CULTURE – Taser-weilding thieves held up three employees of the The Green Room Society on Monday night; the latest in a series of medical marijuana dispensary robberies to hit the city of Vancouver in recent weeks.

Two men, identified by an employee as caucasian and indigenous – one wearing gloves and a bandana over his mouth – buzzed tasers and demanded staff “hand over all the cash” at about 10:30pm, Monday night at the store’s location at 1057 Seymour St.

The robbers left with $1700 in cash and were not interested in the marijuana or other medical products, according to an employee who spoke to Cannabis Culture. The employee said she made a report to police and was shaken up by the experience but not harmed.

The robbery is the latest in a series of attacks on medical marijuana dispensaries in Vancouver.

On Saturday at about 4:30am, a 27-year-old man drove a stolen vehicle through the front wall of two marijuana dispensaries – The Stressed and Depressed Association (1353 E. 41st St.) and the Canna Clinic (2437 E. Hastings St.).

The man made off with hundreds of dollars in marijuana products but was eventually caught by police.

The Cannabis Culture Headshop and Vapor Lounge (307 W. Hastings St.) was broken into earlier in May by thieves who cut power to the building. Ignite Smoke Shop (109 W Cordova St.) was hit as well this month.

Medical marijuana dispensaries – and how they should be regulated – is currently a hot topic in Vancouver, as the City Council prepares to hold a public hearing on new regulations designed by city staff for the federally-illegal storefront marijuana operations.

The Vancouver Police Department confirmed the latest robbery at Green Room to Cannabis Culture.

“The incident remains under investigation as police develop a suspect profile and continue to gather evidence to determine who is responsible, but no arrests have been made in this case,” Cst. Brian Montague told CC.

“Obviously any level of violence is a concern, especially when weapons are produced,” he said.