Up In Smoke: Cannabis, Crime and Creating Equity

A storm's been brewing over legal cannabis in Oakland. And Chaney Turner thinks it has the potential to wash away small business owners-- especially People of Color. Chaney Turner,  current Chair of the Oakland Cannabis Commission, has seen robberies reach new heights as organized heists hit cannabis supply chains, from grow operations to retailers. It was especially intense during the summer of 2020, but this past fall, another string of caravan burglaries shook the industry, and resulted in distressed workers and millions in lost inventory. Turner says the Oakland Police Department's response to the burglaries was disappointing and frustrating to business owners. Turner heard retailers experienced slow response times and poor communication from OPD. Some operators were also told to take matters into their own hands by arming themselves. While they have seen some improvement in communication from the police, for cannabis operators in Oakland paying sky high taxes, the approach still leaves something to be desired. On this week's show Turner talks about the state of legalized marijuana and how it intersects with these robberies, banking, equity, community safety, and how Turner understand why some would hesitate to leave the illicit market. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices