Portland, OR – A significant legal outcome has been reached as a Portland cannabis dispensary employee was acquitted on all counts, marking a notable instance where a Dispensary Employee Acquitted due to a violent robbery encounter. The verdict, delivered on October 10, 2025, by a Multnomah County jury, concluded the legal battle for Jason R. Steiner, who faced murder charges stemming from an incident in October 2024 that left two suspected assailants dead, highlighting the complexities of self-defense laws in Oregon and the perils within the cannabis industry.
Deadly Confrontation and Dispensary Employee Acquittal
The incident occurred on the evening of October 3, 2024, at the La Mota cannabis store in North Portland. Jason Steiner, then 35, was working alone when three masked individuals entered the establishment with apparent intentions to rob it. Surveillance footage, presented during the trial, showed the suspects holding Steiner at gunpoint and forcing him out of the store while they proceeded to take products. According to court documents, Steiner then retrieved a semi-automatic handgun from his bag, moved to a window, and fired 13 shots into the building. This action resulted in the deaths of two of the alleged robbers, identified as 20-year-old Tahir Burley and 18-year-old King Lawrence. The third suspect escaped the scene on foot, adding to the Portland crime news surrounding the event. The subsequent legal proceedings focused heavily on the fact that this Dispensary Employee Acquitted.
Legal Battle: Self-Defense and the Dispensary Employee Acquitted
Steiner surrendered to police days after the shooting and was initially charged with murder. Prosecutors argued that Steiner acted outside the bounds of self-defense, contending he had opportunities to flee or call for help after being forced outside, rather than returning to the store to engage the suspects. They asserted that he made a conscious choice to fire upon the individuals, some of whom did not appear to be holding firearms at the moment of the shooting. The defense, however, maintained that Steiner acted in lawful self-defense, driven by a genuine fear for his safety, a key factor in the Dispensary Employee Acquitted. Steiner himself told investigators that he feared the suspects would “hunt him down” and potentially use his car keys, which he had left inside the store, to steal his vehicle. His legal team argued that Oregon law permitted the use of deadly force under such circumstances, especially when facing a deadly robbery encounter. This case is a prime example of a Dispensary Employee Acquitted.
Jury’s Verdict: The Dispensary Employee Acquitted
The jury’s acquittal on all counts signifies their acceptance of the self-defense argument, leading to the Dispensary Employee Acquitted. This case unfolds against a backdrop of increasing crime targeting cannabis dispensaries across Portland and the wider Oregon area. Many businesses in the cannabis sector operate largely in cash due to federal banking restrictions, making them attractive targets for criminals, contributing to cannabis industry crime. Reports indicate a surge in burglaries and robberies affecting marijuana businesses, leading to significant financial losses and safety concerns for employees. The jury verdict self-defense was crucial here.
In Oregon, self-defense laws allow for the use of physical force, including deadly force, when a person reasonably believes it is necessary to protect themselves or others from imminent unlawful physical force. While the state does not have a “stand your ground” law, it does not impose a duty to retreat if an individual is in a place they have a lawful right to be. This aspect of self-defense laws Oregon was central to the case where the Dispensary Employee Acquitted.
Prior Incidents and Broader Implications for the La Mota Dispensary Incident
Court documents revealed that Steiner had a prior misdemeanor conviction for unlawful use of a weapon stemming from an incident in 2021 after being fired from another dispensary. This incident involved him backing his vehicle into his former employer’s car, fleeing the scene, and later hitting a detective’s vehicle before being apprehended. He pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges, received probation, and was ordered to attend anger management classes. Despite this, he was a Dispensary Employee Acquitted.
While Steiner’s acquittal provides a sense of closure for him, the case underscores the complex and often dangerous environment within which many employees of the cannabis industry operate. The verdict may also bring renewed attention to the legal interpretations of self-defense in high-stakes confrontations and the broader challenges faced by businesses in Oregon’s evolving cannabis market, especially in light of the La Mota dispensary incident and the fact that homicide charges dropped. The outcome of this case, where a Dispensary Employee Acquitted, will likely be discussed for some time.
