The EVOLUTION Magazine June 2022 | Page 6

From The Editor
6 June 2022

From The Editor

Bill Cromwell , Publisher , Editor-in-Chief

Robberies Happen in Different Forms

Sadly , robberies have become inevitable for most open-door retail businesses . If you own a store , it ’ s often not a matter of if a robbery will happen but when . With that said , rest assured , Missouri medical cannabis dispensaries are as or more secure than your neighborhood bank , jewelry store , and certainly more than any convenience / gas store .

For those patients who have visited dispensaries , you know that armed guards stand tall at the entrance of a secure lobby area separated by a locked door to the retail area . You must register at the front desk before being allowed to enter the retail area through a secure door . You may not notice the multitude of high-resolution security cameras that can zoom in so close they can count your nostril hairs . Cameras cover every square inch of the dispensary , inside and out . There might even be an armed guard in the backroom monitoring those cameras ( can ’ t disclose that ; it ’ s top secret ), ready to leap into action .
Additionally , all products are locked up in a vault or safe drawer ( container ) until a purchase is made . Like a jewelry store , all product goes to the vault at the end of the day . If some fool wants to ( attempt ) break in after hours , they will risk 10 years in prison for some lighters , grinders , rolling papers , and bongs .
Nevertheless , there have been a few fools try . In February , Fox4 news reported that police investigated break-ins at three Kansas City medical marijuana dispensaries . “ A police spokesperson said detectives have identified a suspect . They believe the suspect was involved in burglaries at From the Earth dispensary near 62nd Street and Troost Ave . on January 20 and a burglary at Greenlight Dispensary near Interstate 435 and Bannister Road the next day ,” the report said . “ Someone also broke into a dispensary near East 70th Street and Prospect Ave ., in mid-February . Investigators said the dispensaries are required by law to have security , alarm systems , and surveillance video , which helped police with the investigation .”
A highway robbery of a different kind happened in Kansas ! An armored vehicle traveling through Kansas ( to a Colorado bank ) on May 17 , 2021 , was carrying cash from marijuana dispensaries in Missouri when it was stopped by law enforcement . The traffic stop was made by a Dickinson County sheriff ’ s deputy who reportedly told the driver he pulled her over because the tag was partially obscured and then asked what she was hauling .
The Kansas Reflector news report said , “ From this traffic stop , a series of events unspooled that resulted in more than $ 1.2 million being seized in what an Empyreal Logistics attorney describes in a court filing as ‘ the repeated and continuing highway robberies of armored cars by government agents .’
“ The next day , May 18 , 2021 , Robison , the sheriff ’ s deputy , again stopped the van , this time seizing more than $ 165,000 . By that time , law enforcement officials had placed tag numbers of vehicles owned by Empyreal Logistics , the armored vehicle company , into a national database that allows high-speed computerized license plate readers to scan traffic and spot the vehicles .”
This is a must read story . Law enforcement actually surveilled the armored vehicle days later at a dispensary in Missouri , followed it into Kansas , and seized more cash being transported to a Colorado bank . See the following link . https :// kansasreflector . com / 2022 / 02 / 06 / how-akansas-traffic-stop-led-to-a-federal-lawsuit-over-1-2m-in-seizedmarijuana-profits /
Happy Father ’ s Day , and feel secure on your next dispensary visit . Just don ’ t take your purchase ( or cash ) to Kansas !
Missouri ’ s First Educational Medical Cannabis Magazine Published Monthly by Native Kansas City , MO , Advocates , Publishers and Writers . A True Missouri Born Grassroots Effort to Educate and Inform Patients , and to Provide Businesses within The Missouri Cannabis Industry an Economical Forum to Tell Their Story . We hope you join and enjoy “ The Evolution .”
PUBLISHER , EDITOR-IN-CHIEF : Bill Cromwell News , Articles and Advertisement Requests should email to : Bill . C @ TheEvolutionMag . com Corporate Office : 816.878.4509 Kansas City , MO Mail to : P . O . Box 2196 , Independence , MO 64055
MANAGING EDITOR , VP OF OPERATIONS : Victoria Cromwell DIRECTOR MARKETING and EDITORIAL DEVELOPMENT : Clayton Stallings CREATIVE DESIGNER , GRAPHIC ARTS and EDITORIAL : Bill Cromwell PHOTOGRAPHY : Clayton Stallings , and guests photographers
Our Team of Expert Writers and Cannabis Industry Leaders
● Danielle Buntyon ― Elevated Learning
● Karla Deel — Cannabis Culture and History , Product Profiles
● Kassie Ferrero ― Product Reviews and Dispensary News
● Dana Howard — Cooking with CBD and THC
● Dolores Halbin , RN — Patient Advocate and Awareness
● April Hatch , RN ― Patient Education Columnist
● Sean Keast ― Product Profiles and Dispensary News
● Peter Kershaw — Health and Safety Columnist
● Leah Maurer — Health , Awareness , Ask Leah Columnist
● Jason Mispagel , — Home Growers Education Columnist
● Andrew Park , ACRP-CP — Cannabiz News
● Dr . Michael J . Poppa , D . O ., M . B . A . ― Medical Health News
● Monthly Guest Writers — Cannabis News & Patient Advocates
The EVOLUTION TM Magazine offers a monthly print magazine that is distributed throughout western Missouri , select St . Louis locations , eastern Kansas and the Lake of the Ozarks region . Free printed copies are found at nearly 360 locations including CBD stores , MMJ Dispensaries , Garden and Grow Supply Stores , doctors offices , restaurants , sports bars , resorts , and many other select locations . In addition , the monthly magazine is offered online in an inter-active E-magazine at www . TheEvolutionMag . com .
NOTICE : The publisher / editor reserves the right to reject whatever material does not fit with the vision or intent of this publication . Advertising is accepted at the discretion of the publisher and do not imply endorsement , nor are we responsible for the products or services advertised . The contributing writers , staff or owners of THE EVOLUTION Magazine LLC cannot be held liable for hardship or losses incurred due to any content associated within this publication or websites . Written views , advertisements and information expressed in this publication belong to the writers or advertisers and do not reflect the sentiments or editorial opinion of the publisher or staff . We cannot be held responsible for ; views , opinions , changes to scheduling , prices , rates or the occasional typographical errors .
ADVERTISEMENT NOTICE : Advertisers have the right to terminate promotions or special offers / coupons , change rates or fees without notice . All listed guides , rates , fees and information herein are non-binding reference material only . Always check with listed businesses or advertisers for its latest updates , current prices and / or special offers .
FDA Disclaimer : Any statements / claims made within this magazine have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration . No articles , products or Ads featured within these pages are intended to diagnose , treat , cure , prevent any disease , ailment or disorder . Medical decisions should not be made based on advertisements within these pages . Consult a physician on the benefits and risks of particular medical marijuana products . Products mentioned within for use by adults age 18 and older . Keep such products out of reach of children . The information within is a sharing of knowledge and information based on the writers research , opinions and / or educated experience .
© 2019 – 2022 The EVOLUTION TM Magazine . All Rights Proprietary and Conceptual Designs Reserved . Reproduction of any part of this publication ’ s contents is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Publisher or Managing Editor .