Wrong, for the most part bootlegging and moonshining are thru, thanks to legalisation. I imagine that there are still some southern holdouts but the vast (and I mean VAST) majority of Americans get their liquor legally, thru regulated channels.
Price is set by supply and demand. No one has ever suggested that there has not been an adequate supply of illegal drugs getting out to the streets.
There are always shortages, dry spells or what have you. Because there is so much risk involved supply lines are tentative (at best) and wholly un-reliable. What can a consumer expect when his entire supply chain is subject to arrest and imprisonment at any time?
Demand is not likely to go down, if the substances are made legal.I disagree. Take away the risk and supply will skyrocket with the realization of modern mass-farming techniques. Add to that the legitimate supply chains and I don't see how such drugs as MJ couldn't become cheaper by orders of magnitude. Of course, harder drugs (more costly production and far more regulation) don't fit the same model because they are produced in similar fashion to pharm's in that they require actual manufacturing.......they would remain relatively expensive due to regulation I imagine.
EBUCK