PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Green Goddess Remedies Weed Dispensary, a cherished establishment in Portland’s cannabis community, is grappling with an uncertain future following a harrowing robbery at gunpoint on September 14.
For over a decade, this dispensary has served local cannabis enthusiasts, but this recent incident marks yet another significant setback for the business, which has already been dealing with rising safety concerns.
On that fateful morning, shortly after 10 a.m., two masked individuals dressed in black entered the shop located at 5435 SW Taylors Ferry Road while General Manager Elle Lune was alone.
“I froze, and I immediately stuck my hands up,” Lune recalled of the terrifying moment.
The robbers demanded cash and, under duress, forced Lune to open the register. The situation escalated when the suspects took her to the back of the store while threatening her with a firearm.
“I asked him, ‘If I opened all the safes, can I please go?’ And he said I couldn’t, that I needed to stay with them,” Lune further detailed.
According to Assistant Manager Alicia Bruggeman, the robbers left the dispensary with approximately $13,000 worth of cannabis products and $1,000 in cash, an immense loss for a small business facing heightened risks.
This wasn’t the first violent episode for Green Goddess Remedies. Just ten months prior, a different manager had also been held at gunpoint during a similar robbery, an event that left lasting emotional scars on the staff and resulted in multiple employees quitting the cannabis industry altogether.
Adding to the dispensary’s troubles, it recently experienced damage when a distracted driver crashed into its building just two months ago, prompting employees to launch a GoFundMe campaign for repair expenses.
Bruggeman expressed her frustration, stating, “It just feels like it never ends,” highlighting the cumulative toll of these incidents on the business and its staff.
In the aftermath of the robbery, Green Goddess Remedies has implemented new security measures, including a buzzer entry system and more stringent restrictions on customer access.
Lune mentioned the stark transition in the shopping experience, saying, “For people who have been shopping here from the beginning, for them to see that they need to be buzzed through the door and that there’s only one person allowed in for bud is a stark change from what it was just a week ago.”
While these changes aim to enhance safety, employees recognize that they diminish the welcoming atmosphere that the dispensary has fostered over the years.
Operating for 13 years, the repeated violence and financial losses have led owner Kevin Walsh to question the future viability of the shop.
The impact on the staff is profound, as they navigate persistent trauma and a fear of further robberies. This ongoing stress, coupled with their financial challenges, puts the dispensary’s continued presence in Portland’s competitive cannabis market in jeopardy.
The broader cannabis industry in Oregon faces significant challenges, with dispensaries becoming common targets for armed robberies, primarily because many of them operate on a cash-only basis due to federal banking restrictions.
Advocates within the industry have long called for reforms to allow safer financial practices, potentially reducing the reliance on cash and increasing security for businesses like Green Goddess Remedies.
As of now, the investigation into the September 14 robbery continues, with the suspects still at large. The Portland Police Bureau confirmed that their investigation remains active without providing further details.
In the meantime, both staff members and loyal customers are left to ponder the future of Green Goddess Remedies.
“This was a place that always felt like family,” Lune reflected.
Yet, after the series of incidents, she admitted, “It’s hard to know if we can keep going.”
image source from：canbyfirst
