California’s cannabis black market has eclipsed its legal one
Although marijuana has been legal in California for nearly two years, black market weed is still a booming business in the state. Illegal sellers outnumber legal and regulated businesses almost 3-to-1, according to a startling analysis of California cannabis sellers released this month.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Some critics blame the website Weedmaps for letting thousands of rogue stores advertise.
- A lockout of legit sellers in most of the state’s cities, enforcement challenges, and high retail taxes have only emboldened an expanding black market.
- Cannabis buyers also must consider that when buying from a legal shop, the price includes state and, often, local taxes that can add up to 25 percent to the cost.
