State treasurer urges U.S. senate to allow cannabis dispensaries to use banking services
With violence on the rise at marijuana dispensaries across Washington, State Treasurer Mike Pellicciotti is lobbying the U.S. Senate to pass the Safe Banking Act.
The act would allow the dispensaries to use credit cards, debit cards, and other banking services instead of being cash only.
"These robberies are tragic but they're also preventable," said Pellicciotti. "People rob where the cash is. If we get cash out of this industry there will be fewer robberies. These robberies are preventable and this is a common-sense approach to making our communities safer."
On Thursday, a man was killed by a security guard after he attempted to rob a dispensary in Covington. And on Wednesday, two men were arrested and one was shot and killed by police following a robbery at a dispensary in Bellevue.
The Safe Banking Act passed the house back in April but stalled in Senate committee.
