PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — After more than a decade serving Portland’s cannabis community, Green Goddess Remedies Weed Dispensary is facing an uncertain future. The beloved shop was robbed at gunpoint on September 14, marking yet another blow to a business already struggling with safety concerns and repeated setbacks.

A Morning Turned Terrifying

It was just after 10 a.m. when two masked suspects dressed in black walked through the doors of the dispensary, located at 5435 SW Taylors Ferry Road. General Manager Elle Lune was working alone that morning.

“I froze, and I immediately stuck my hands up,” Lune recalled. “They told me, ‘Show me the money.’ They grabbed the back of my clothes and pushed me through the door.”

Surveillance footage shows Lune, hands still raised, opening the register as the suspects helped themselves to cash and cannabis products. But the ordeal didn’t end there.

“Then they took me into the back. He put the gun into my back and brought me through the door,” she said. “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.”

A Costly Hit

According to Assistant Manager Alicia Bruggeman, the thieves made off with roughly $13,000 in cannabis products and $1,000 in cash. For a small dispensary, the loss is significant — not only financially but emotionally.

The September robbery was not the first time employees at Green Goddess faced violence. “About 10 months ago, our last manager got held up at gunpoint,” Bruggeman said. “They stole some cash, they stole some bud, and they, like, mentally, really hurt her. Her and the other employee that were working ended up both quitting. They’re out of the cannabis industry altogether.”

A String of Setbacks

The robbery comes on the heels of another recent incident. Just two months ago, a distracted driver plowed into the store’s building, causing major damage. Staff launched a GoFundMe campaign to cover repair costs.

“Then this week we got robbed at gunpoint again,” Bruggeman said, frustration in her voice. “It just feels like it never ends.”

Security Tightened, But Atmosphere Changed

In response to the latest robbery, the dispensary has added new layers of security, including buzzer entry and stricter customer access.

“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,” Lune explained.

The changes are designed to protect staff and customers, but employees admit it alters the welcoming atmosphere Green Goddess was known for.

The Toll on Staff and Business

For a shop that has operated for 13 years, the repeated robberies and financial losses are raising questions about the future. Owner Kevin Walsh is now weighing whether to keep the doors open at all.

The toll on employees has been particularly heavy. Workers described lasting trauma from past incidents and constant fear that another robbery could happen. The stress, combined with financial setbacks, threatens to push the dispensary out of Portland’s crowded cannabis market.

Broader Concerns in the Industry

Cannabis dispensaries have become frequent targets for armed robberies in Portland and across Oregon. Many operate largely in cash because of federal banking restrictions, making them especially attractive to thieves. Industry advocates have long pushed for reforms that would allow safer financial practices and reduce reliance on cash transactions.

Investigation Ongoing

The suspects in the September 14 robbery remain at large. The Portland Police Bureau confirmed the case is still under investigation but has released no additional details.

Meanwhile, the staff and loyal customers of Green Goddess Remedies are left grappling with what the future holds.

“This was a place that always felt like family,” Lune said. “But after everything that’s happened, it’s hard to know if we can keep going.”