Colorado Springs recently became the second city in Colorado to dismiss the notion that medical marijuana dispensaries and collectives are “crime magnets.”

The 41 criminal reports at marijuana businesses in Colorado Springs over 18 months compared to 797 robberies in businesses and houses in the same period. That rate isn’t especially high compared to other businesses, police said.

The simple fact is that any business that sells a valuable product is tempting to criminals. Because of its many benefits and illegality, cannabis is a valuable product. But to say that dispensaries attract more crime than other businesses is a disingenuous attempt by anti-legalization activists to scare people.

The city of Denver came to a similar conclusion earlier this year.

In January, police in Denver concluded that the projected robbery and burglary rate for storefront dispensaries in 2009 was on par with that of pharmacies. The analysis was the first time Denver police compared crime at dispensaries with that at other businesses.

Each and every attempt at fear-mongering by our opponents must be met with the truth. That’s what we do here at The 420 Times, everyday.

- Joe Klare