Dream of a pot lounge over for Saskatoon businessman

SASKATOON — A collection of Volcano vaporizers was fired up, filling plastic bags with THC-laden gulps of air. Patrons passed the bags around, taking in the substance many call medicine.

Jeffrey Lundstrom, the owner of the Lounge in the Loft, Saskatoon’s only marijuana vapour lounge, said goodbye to the business with one last “smoke-out” Saturday night.

According to Lundstrom, he received inspection notices from the city’s community services branch, the fire department and Saskatoon Health Region on May 11. Rather than go through a process he felt would likely end up with the business closing, he chose to end it on his own terms.

“For me it was easier to close the doors and wait for another opportunity than to jump all the city’s hurdles, and go through all the bull----, and then potentially not being able to operate anyway,” he said.

Lundstrom admitted the business was struggling. He said attendance had fallen significantly, following a report the business was being investigated by police.

“As soon as a pothead hears the word investigation, it doesn’t matter what kind of pothead you are, or any kind of person for that matter, people just freak out,” he said.

He was losing money. He had hoped to hold out until the next federal election, thinking a Liberal victory might bring legalization, but the inspections brought that to an end.

Saturday’s event was subdued. About 15 people came through. Some were loyal customers, others heard about it through media reports. Despite earlier claims he would let anyone in and give them free pot, Lundstrom was checking IDs and prohibiting anyone under 18. Several teenagers were turned away.

He only gave pot to people with medical marijuana cards. Other people were allowed to bring their own. Lundstrom said his earlier claims about free pot were a deliberate effort to build hype for the event.

He had also previously told the StarPhoenix and other media outlets he was ready to be arrested, but police left the event alone.

Keegan Lumbis was in the lounge for the first time.

Between hits from a Volcano, he said he regretted not having found out about it sooner.

“It’s pretty chill actually. It’s a shame it’s closing, because I actually really like it here,” he said. “I would have been here almost every day, probably.”