Hunter Bertram

Paraphernalia now sold legally in Minnesota

Stores in Minnesota can now sell devices for consuming marijuana legally, but not the substance itself.

By Hunter Bertram

“Well, it's a breath of relief for sure,” said Kai Flowers, the assistant manager of Hideaway Dinkytown in Minneapolis, adding customers, "Definitely more energetic, definitely open. Do you have weed now? No, but it's fun to say it."

Hideaway is a shop specializing in selling recreational and medicinal devices for smoking.

"Hideaway is a business providing experience and knowledge from staff," said the owner and CEO of Hideaway, Wael Sakallah, who showed me around the Northeast Minneapolis warehouse, where the store's products are manufactured. 

Since the legalization of marijuana, Sakallah said,  people can finally be truthful in why they are buying his store's products. 

“As soon as Minnesota made marijuana legal, and no more is prohibited and no more taboo for people, it was a big celebration for hideaway, and we felt like a super release," Sakallah said.

Hideaway can now sell devices to customers who admit they plan to smoke marijuana, whereas, before legalization, they couldn't.

"It's like removing the stigma around the products entirely. They are not afraid to have someone see if they smell or are high,” said Sakallah, “it's a relief of calling the products for what it is not working left and right."

Flowers added that customers “come in and are more open about what they want. It's nice people can be more open now." 

Minnesota is still in the process of establishing regulations and licensing for the retailing of marijuana, so it may take a while before it's widely available for purchase.