"Pops up"? Do you mean there is no black market now? From CASA:
Marijuana continues to be easier to buy than beer: 23 percent of teens find it easiest to buy compared to 15 percent who find beer easiest to buy.
http://www.casacolumbia.org/absolutenm/templates/PressReleases.aspx?articleid=533&zoneid=66
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You left out one reason often cited for ending the War on Drugs - the belief that under the Tenth Amendment, fedgov should butt out of a state issue. Simple yes/no question: do you think Wickard is in keeping with the original meaning of the Commerce Clause?
About five years ago I was superving remodeling a waterfront estate. I had a few white homeless guys that cleaned up, lumped, did grunt work.
I was driving them back to their ‘camp’ and asked them if they wanted a 12 pack of beer. They said no thanks, they were getting meth and heroin cheaper than beer.
This was five years ago. State and Federal are doubling the taxes, at least, on beer, wine, spirits.
It is getting to the point that illegal drugs are less expensive than legal drugs.
In Massachusetts a carton of Marlboro’s have gone from 25$ to 75$ and soon 90$
Oregon has proposed doubling the cost of beer. Not doubling the tax, the cost. So too yesterday Senator Grassly (R) proposed doubling the federal alcohol tax. Look for a PBR to cost 5$ in a bar.