Oregon Live
A shooting that killed two people at a cannabis dispensary in the St. Johns neighborhood last week stemmed from an armed robbery.
That’s according to police and an employee with the city of Portland’s cannabis program, who testified at City Council on Wednesday about growing concerns facing marijuana businesses locally
The site of the shooting, the St. Johns branch of the La Mota dispensary chain, had been targeted in at least four previous armed robberies in the past three years, state records show.
“As time progresses, these criminals are getting more brazen and the consequences for our Portland businesses are becoming more severe,” said Christina Coursey, the cannabis and liquor programs manager.
Data from the Police Bureau showed 33 robberies were reported at cannabis businesses in the first half of 2023, a number higher than annual totals each year from 2016 to 2022. According to police, the highest number of offenses occur between 8 p.m. and midnight, often on Wednesdays.
The La Mota shooting occurred just after 9:30 p.m., police said. Among the four armed robberies since 2022, two took place close to 10 p.m.
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