Pubdate: Fri, 23 Sep 2016
Source: Regina Leader-Post (CN SN)
Copyright: 2016 The Leader-Post Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.leaderpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/361
Author: Ashley Robinson
Page: A3

VINTAGE VINYL CELEBRATES 25 YEARS AS POT ATTITUDES CHANGE

Vintage Vinyl and Hemp Emporium is known for a lot of things, notably
its history with marijuana.

Dylan and Janelle Baumet's father Pat opened Vintage Vinyl and Hemp
Emporium 25 years ago in downtown Regina. The store has remained a
family business over the years and sells everything from records to
marijuana smoking accessories.

The store has continued to sell accessories for smoking marijuana and
has seen society's thoughts toward marijuana change.

"Every year there's just more and more smokers and people are starting
to realize that marijuana's good and not bad," Dylan said.

Dylan has noticed more people coming into the store over the years for
accessories as they have turned to marijuana to help with cancer
treatments and other pains. Dylan and Janelle's father and mother both
had cancer and died from it.

"That's always in the back our minds when we're working here, too,
with new patients," Janelle said.

The Liberal government is on the path to legalizing marijuana, which
Dylan believes is for the best and is long overdue.

Vintage Vinyl is the longest-running hemp store in Canada so Dylan
believes that legalization will just help the store to grow.

"There's going to definitely be more stores popping up. There already
has been over the last bit, but a lot of them come and go and don't
last," he said.

He isn't concerned for any future competition since Vintage Vinyl is
such an established store.

The store has not been without controversy since its opening and in
2013 the store was raided after police found out Pat's medical
marijuana growing licence had expired. In Sept, 2014 Pat pleaded
guilty to production and possession of marijuana and was sentenced to
a six-month conditional sentence to be served in the community.
Fourteen other charges against him were stayed. Janelle was charged
with possession of marijuana but that was withdrawn after she
completed an alternate measures program and Dylan faced eight drug
charges, including possession of proceeds of crime over $5,000, but
those were eventually stayed as well.

This weekend will see Vintage Vinyl celebrating its 25th anniversary.
Pat started out renting a smaller space at the current location. As
the years went on and neighbouring businesses closed, the store took
on more space in the building until he had bought the entire place.

"We sell definitely a variety of stuff. We have anyone from kids that
are just starting out with records to older people that have been
shopping here since we opened," Janelle said.

This weekend's festivities will see Vintage Vinyl host a variety of
events, including face painting and live music at the store. On Friday
evening it will be at the Exchange and Saturday night at Durty
Nelly's, both nights will include live music and raffles. All proceeds
from the weekend will go toward the Allan Blair Cancer Centre and
Prairie Sky Dog Rescue.

The Allan Blair Cancer Centre worked with both of their parents toward
the end their lives and Prairie Sky was founded by one of Pat's
nurses, so he always had a soft spot for it.
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MAP posted-by: Matt