DENVER — Burglaries persist as a major problem for those running dispensaries. The experience of Brandon Burnham, proprietor of The Herbal Cure, underscores this issue.
“Securing things away at night can be cumbersome, but incidents like these demonstrate the necessity of such precautions,” Burnham remarked.
In a span of just three days in February, The Herbal Cure was targeted twice. Intruders rammed through the dispensary’s fence in an attempt to gain entry, damaging part of a mural in the process.
By Wednesday, the mural’s artist, Henry Bell, was at the scene, repairing the vandalized portions.
“This level of vandalism seems unwarranted,” stated Bell. “While it’s enjoyable to work outdoors on something you’re passionate about, creating new pieces would be preferable.”
Despite the intrusion, surveillance footage revealed the culprits managed to enter the establishment but failed to steal significant items. However, they did destroy a fish tank during their exit, resulting in approximately $50,000 in damages, according to Burnham.
“Fortunately, we had secured everything, so their theft attempts were futile,” Burnham shared. “The key is to keep striving and appreciate your resilience during these challenging episodes.”
Denver Police Department statistics highlight that marijuana-related burglaries hit a record in 2020 with 175 incidents. In contrast, 2023 saw a report of 114 burglaries.
Burnham has lost count of the attempts to break into his establishment.
Recently, Burnham managed to replace the damaged fish tank, thanks to the collective support of his team, patrons, and a cannabis edibles manufacturer who contributed to the cause.
“The overwhelming support has certainly helped us navigate through the aftermath of the burglary attempt,” he emphasized. “It made coping with the situation somewhat easier.”
Despite the adversities, Burnham remains hopeful that people will continue to support local dispensaries. The City of Denver reports, despite increased crime rates and a downturn in tax revenue, there has been a 5% rise in the issuance of licenses this year compared to the last.
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