The mother of 19-year-old William Benjamin Harris is suing Weedmaps and its three parent companies; WM Holding Co, Ghost Management Group, Weedmaps Media, and SoCal vape shop Universal Stop and its owner Movses Movsisyan for the alleged involvement in the shooting of her son. 

Benjamin Harris was fatally shot in June 2019 by a Cannabis delivery worker who goes by the name David Christopher Gregorich, an employee at Universal Stop, after Benjamin had placed an order through Weedmaps. A 17-year-old also sustained injuries due to the shooting. 

Muur Photon, the mother of Benjamin, has filed a lawsuit in California Superior Court in Los Angeles County. The lawsuit claims that both companies are compliant with her son's wrongful murder and intends to hold all the parties responsible. The lawsuit claims that Gregorich is a previously convicted felon and should have been terminated due to unusual aggressive behavior. 

He routinely took weapons on his marijuana deliveries, while the companies failed to supervise or provide adequate training and enforce regulations for the use of firearms by employees. Additionally, the lawsuit holds all parties responsible for not verifying the buyer's age and identity before making the delivery. The legal age to purchase marijuana in California is 21, and Benjamin was only 19. 

In defense, Gregorich's lawyer had told Law360 that the employee opened fire because he thought Benjamin was going to rob him when he approached his car. Gregorich has been charged with multiple crimes including murder and is pleading not guilty to the crimes.

When asked, a Weedmaps spokesperson declined to comment. Universal Stop and Weedmaps are negligent in the lawsuit, which could cost them to be proven guilty. Both companies and adhering parties are put to the test with their reputation and business. 

If convicted of retention, negligence, and lack of supervision, the companies lose all they have built up. If convicted of murder, Gregorich faces a life sentence in prison. 

For more cannabis news and trends, see how Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is pushing cannabis reform. 

Image via Weedmaps