Michigan Regulators Warn of Uptick in Crime Against Cannabis Delivery Drivers

The Michigan Cannabis Regulatory Agency (CRA) on Tuesday issued an advisory bulletin warning of an increase in “a pattern in reported criminal activity” related to cannabis delivery drivers.  

The agency said there have been 13 thefts of cannabis products from delivery drivers in the last six weeks, including armed robberies during which product and vehicles have been stolen and the drivers assaulted. 

The incidents occurred in Ann Arbor, Detroit, Ferndale, Hamtramck, Hazel Park, Lansing, Utica, and Westland, the agency said. 

Under state law, cannabis licensees and applicants are required to report incidents of theft within 24 hours of becoming aware of any theft or loss of any product or criminal activity at the business.

Last spring and summer, several reports of crimes against cannabusinesses were reported in Michigan. In May, 11 suspects were arrested after police spotted them throwing a safe off of a garage roof in their attempt to open it, WWMT reports. The safe was linked to a dispensary in Battle Creek. The business, Sticky Battle Creek, told WWMT they had been robbed twice. In June, one person was arrested as part of a group attempting to rob Skymint dispensary in Muskegon, according to a 13 On Your Side report. The following month, over the July 4 holiday weekend, My Michiganja was burglarized, according to 13 On Your Side. Four Battle Creek men were later charged with the robberies.

Cannabis businesses are often targeted by criminals, in part because they keep cash on hand as federal law makes banking difficult for cannabis companies.