Recreational marijuana and registered marijuana grows are legal in California. Dicus, however, cited the marijuana black market as a cause of violence.
“The plague is the black market of marijuana and certainly cartel activity, and a number of victims are out there,” he said.
I live in California. I have gummies and a vape that I bought at corner stores. How is this still a thing? I’m genuinely curious. Why are people still dying over pot if I can buy it legally?
It’s common for dispensaries to sell an 1/8th for ~$15-25, at least in northern California. Just checked a couple local places and see many options for half ounces around $40.
I doubt many people care about anonymity here either. It’s all cash transactions, and you just get carded like buying booze - no real registration, except for like rewards points/loyalty programs lol
Plus, a new law just went into effect here that supposedly protects employees from being asked about/discriminated against for their cannabis use, granted there are exceptions for some construction jobs and jobs requiring federal clearances. (AB 2188, for anyone interested)
The legal market is saturated in California. I would guess most of the black market is exporting out of state where it can be sold for more. But I could definitely be wrong! I agree that it’s unlikely to disappear until it’s unprofitable.
I’d make a bet that there is plenty of people who care, enough to support a black market.
There are plenty of people that don’t have an ID or aren’t old enough to go to a dispensary.