[peller]

I don't think it's fair to say the tax _created_ the illegal market. Perhaps the taxes are too high to eliminate it, but the black market was always there, and it never had any real assurances of safety. Now, you have a safe(r) option, even if it may be more expensive than some people are willing to pay for.

[Braggadocious]

Right. can't say taxation created something that existed before taxation. If I had to guess, most marijuana users simply dont want to pay club prices, and don't want to support the government.

[asdff]

Most people do not want a 30% upcharge for the same product in more restrictive packaging. Buy an ounce at a perfectly legal club and you will be handed 8 sealed ornate cardboard boxes housing opaque plastic bags in child proof packaging, each containing 3.5g of product packaged anytime in the last two years, for around $30-50 each 3.5g with state sales tax, local mj tax, and state excise tax all adding up to another 30% to your final price. And they will charge an ATM fee if you use debit instead of cash as a final fuck you.

Buy an ounce at the illegal dispensary across the street from the legal club, and it will come in one bag, you get to inspect the product before you buy to see how fresh it is and its quality, and it will be cheaper and sold tax free.