Crime, Violence Hits Medical Marijuana Users, Growers

Medical-marijuana providers and users have faced robbery and shootings in states where the drug is legal for medical use, but while the problem is widely acknowledged there is no consensus over a remedy.

The Associated Press reported March 19 that one Seattle medical-marijuana activist has been targeted by thieves eight times, and critically wounded a would-be thief during the latest incident. Last week, a medical marijuana user was beaten to death in a confrontation with a man who was stealing marijuana from his rural property.

Critics of medical marijuana said such crime is inevitable given the violent nature of the drug trade, while supporters say fully legalizing the drug — or putting the state in charge of supplying medical users — could solve the problem.

Police in Denver, Colo., said that the crime rate associated with medical marijuana is lower than that related to banks or liquor stores.