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Comment by antisyzygy | Hacker News Reader

Eh I don't know. I would guess in some States that implemented dumb policies it could be the case.

WA and CO are where my experience was. The product is more often than not cheaper than the black market prices were.

It was pretty common for a black market eighth to cost 40-80 dollars, and you're looking at 20-60 dollars for legal stuff now even with taxes. It's a bit more expensive in WA but I'd say comparable to black market prices.

That's not even to mention the convenience aspect. You can buy a joint that will last a moderate user all evening for like 5 dollars. No need to roll it yourself and all that.

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I don't smoke (or eat or whatever), but I've been constantly told by folks in Denver how much cheaper it is to get marijuana illegally. I've been told the product is crap but much cheaper.

We should legalize marijuana (and everything else), but if the legal market is taxed so highly that it only targets wealthy users and not Joe Schmoe, then the black market remains. Most people are very price conscious.

Some people are more concerned with their health than others, the black market is for those who can't afford to be concerned with their health.

In Michigan, black market was cheaper for a while as dispensaries seemed to focus on high-end product, but prices have significantly reduced over the last few years (I'm guessing due to larger scale of production and more sophisticated business models and logistics). An ounce can now be legally obtained for ~$100-150 and black market product is only available in jurisdictions that haven't permitted building dispensaries - and most of that is legally obtained and illegally resold rather than smuggled or illicitly grown.

I've heard but not directly experienced black market, that their primary customers are either underage users or people who want to convenience of delivery and to keep their contact information away from the watchful eye of the government, and that the people who provide the service typically buy form legal dispensaries and then upcharge dramatically to cover the hassle.

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