Female-Owned Oregon Dispensary Robbed at Gunpoint, Staff Held at Knife’s Edge

A woman-owned cannabis shop in Medford, Oregon, was violently robbed early Saturday morning. Two armed suspects entered the store, threatened staff—pointing firearms and menacing with knives—and made off with inventory. No one was shot, but the employees endured a harrowing ordeal. (kgw.com)

According to responding deputies, the suspects forced open a back door during early hours when the shop was closed. Inside, staff discovered the intruders threatening them with guns and knives. The robbers fled with an undetermined amount of product and cash. Local law enforcement continues to investigate. (kgw.com)

This robbery highlights systemic insecurity in the cannabis retail sector. As federal banking reform, better insurance, and technological security options evolve, retailers must also develop best practices now. States may need to build grant or incentive programs for security investments—especially for small or equity-based operators. It also underscores the pressing case for legislative reform (banking inclusion, cashless options, funding for enforcement) to reduce the necessity for heavy security overhead.

👉 Audience Question:

If you ran a dispensary, especially a smaller or undercapitalized one, how would you balance security costs vs customer experience? Would you advocate for state or federal grants to help cannabis shops afford proper security—and do you think that’s feasible?