That's pretty normal for black-market prices. But at least in Colorado, you can get an ounce of top shelf for $120-$140 after taxes (which are 25%). Eighths go for $20-$30. Street prices are even cheaper, but unless you know the grower personally, you obviously don't really know what you're getting.

It is normal. It's actually much cheaper in some legal states, but not all, and i'm not terribly sure why outside the fact that I can assume some states put higher restrictions on growers/shops.

California is more expensive than it needs to be, but by no means is it way above normal market for the non-legal states. Never mind the array of products and the (near) guarantee you aren't paying for trash.

According to the article some hippies are doing this. Maybe they have more regards for nature than the guys in the "main story", but it isn't really clarified.

Could well be those poison the environment with organic poison or fertilizer.