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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Snoop Dogg welcomes fans during brief appearance at Spokane pot shop

A winterized Snoop Dogg ducked in the back door of a north Spokane pot shop Wednesday afternoon, ahead of a planned appearance to take photos with hundreds of fans who lined Division Street.

“He was really approachable,” said Kristina Baldwin, an Idaho resident who emerged giddy from Royal’s Cannabis after meeting the famed and fur-coated rapper. “It’s unsurprising he does well with the ladies.”

Cordozar Calvin Broadus, Jr., who goes by the stage name Snoop Dogg, entered the store a little bit after noon, sending a small cheer up among those who braved the winter chill to spend a few seconds with the recording artist and reality television star. Snoop Dogg was scheduled to appear Wednesday night at a concert in Kennewick, followed by a performance in Seattle, part of his Puff Puff Pass Tour Part 2.

Security members escorted Snoop Dogg into the store and kept a tight lid on audio and video recording of the artist inside the store. Some customers left the shop with discreet brown bags containing their purchases inside.

Pete Hedemark, a commercial truck driver, had the day off work and showed up in a hockey jersey promoting the Canadian sitcom “Trailer Park Boys,” which featured the rapper in its most recent season on Netflix. Hedemark said his job didn’t allow him to use marijuana, but he supported its legalization for medicinal purposes.

“I’m hoping the new administration doesn’t take a stance against it,” Hedemark said, referring to President-elect Donald Trump’s pick of Sen. Jeff Sessions as attorney general. Sessions has been scrutinized by those in the industry for past statements condemning marijuana use, stoking fears the nominee may roll back the federal government’s laissez faire approach to marijuana enforcement in states where voters have decriminalized the drug.

Ashley Fisk and her younger sister, Autumn Mayfield, said they shared a love of Snoop Dogg’s albums growing up together. Mayfield had a break from finals at Spokane Falls Community College and Fisk was off work, so they visited the store after hearing about the appearance on Instagram.

“I’m just really excited to get a picture with him,” Mayfield said. Royal’s Cannabis promised to post pictures visitors took with the recording artist on its Facebook page.

City Councilwoman Karen Stratton, herself a marijuana farmer, had initially proposed a salutation from the city for Snoop Dogg, similar to the symbolic welcome given to recording artists Macklemore and Ryan Lewis when they appeared at the Bing Crosby Theater this summer. The plan fell through because of a desire for the artist to spend time with fans, Stratton said.

“I thought, why shouldn’t he get the same treatment” as Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, Stratton said.

Several Spokane Police cruisers were parked in the area around the shop throughout the afternoon.