But wait, it gets worse:
“In California, authorities say outlaw dispensaries in Los Angeles County greatly outnumber the licensed storefront retailers — and undercut their prices.
Buyers can get pot products cheaper at illegal outlets that don’t charge or pay taxes, according to Adam Spiker, executive director of the Southern California Coalition, a trade organization that represents cannabis growers, distributors and dispensary owners. He called it an “unfair competitive situation for licensed businesses.”
In Colorado, another legal pot state, news reports indicate police have seen illegal growing operations surge.
Buyers can get pot products cheaper at illegal outlets that don’t charge or pay taxes
Of course - for legalization to most effectively reduce the black market, taxes must not be excessive (as they apparently aren't for the drug alcohol, for which there is a negligible black market). But even with high taxes, every dollar spent on legal product is a dollar not placed in criminal hands.
In Colorado, another legal pot state, news reports indicate police have seen illegal growing operations surge.
Yes, for sale in states where it's illegal - an ongoing fail for marijuana criminalization.