1. Marijuana Symposium Northern California
High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area
University of San Francisco
September 20, 2007

2. Secondary Effects of Medical Marijuana
How Did We Get Here?
Our City Council decided to consider allowing a Marijuana Dispensary in our city.
We in the Police Department researched the potential effects to our community.
We presented sufficient information to encourage our City Council to ban dispensaries in our city.

3. Secondary Effects of Medical Marijuana
Research Obstacles
Under Reporting, if reported at all
Crime Classification
Reliance on typical statistical gathering techniques
Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policies

4. Secondary Effects of Medical Marijuana
The Crimes
Murder / Assault w/ a Deadly Weapon
Robbery
Burglary
Secondary Sales
Money Laundering
Utility Theft

5. Secondary Effects of Medical Marijuana
Deaths Associated with Medical Marijuana
Myth: Nobody dies from Medical Marijuana
Fact: At least 17 deaths in the last four years directly associated with Medical marijuana.
Murders during business robberies
Murders during home invasion robberies
Murders during street robberies
Deaths of suspects during attempted robberies
Numerous shootings during robberies

6. Secondary Effects of Medical Marijuana
Robberies
Based on “under reporting”, We can only estimate the number of Robberies.
Occur in or around the Dispensaries
Victimize the business, employees and patrons and “suppliers”
Range from simple, single suspect armed with pepper spray to five suspect assault teams conducting take over bank style robberies.
Cities without dispensaries experience home invasion robberies of dispensary employees/owners

7. Secondary Effects of Medical Marijuana
Burglaries
Another under reported crime.
A source of calls for service, alarms/reports
Can lead to dispensary owners / growers resorting to means other than Law Enforcement to combat problem.
Also leads to more marijuana on the streets for sale.

8. Secondary Effects of Medical Marijuana
Secondary Sales
Increasing number of sales suspects obtaining recommendations in an effort to cover their illicit activities.
People without recommendations using those with recommendations to obtain marijuana for them.
Popular with Juveniles

9. Secondary Effects of Medical Marijuana
Money Laundering
Every aspect of this endeavor is “cash only”
The growers selling to the dispensaries at an average of approx. $4, per pound
The dispensaries selling to individuals, at prices that approach $8,000 per pound
The doctors making the recommendations, $ per recommendation plus $100-$ for annual renewals
In some instances, the money is financing Organized Crime factions, being moved off shore or used to buy property outside the U.S..

10. Secondary Effects of Medical Marijuana
Utility Theft
It is estimated that electricity theft both in the U.S. and Canada costs consumers MILLIONS of dollars every year.
Make shift wiring for growing operations represents a tremendous safety threat to public safety personnel.
This also creates a significant fire risk.

11. Secondary Effects of Medical Marijuana
Increased Demand for Marijuana
It is estimated there are at least 400 openly operating Dispensaries in California.
If each one sells just one pound per day, that equates to 146,000 pounds a year.
Conservatively, $730,000, ($5, per pound)
We have seen a huge increase in both in-door and out door grows.

12. Secondary Effects of Medical Marijuana
Real Estate
New homes purchased in blocks / Rental property
Converted to in-door grow facilities
Potentially uninhabitable once growers move on or damaged by fire when electrical system fails.
Now a blight upon your community.

13. Secondary Effects of Medical Marijuana
Information used for this report can be found on the Cal Chiefs web site:
Or you can contact me at
Cmdr. Michael Regan
(510)