‘Talk About Clusterf---’: Why Legal Weed Didn’t Kill Oregon’s Black Market

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What is happening in the woods of the southern Oregon represents one of the most confounding paradoxes of the legalized marijuana movement: States with some of the largest legal markets are also dealing with rampant illegal production

The first unlicensed cannabis grow popped up near Gary Longnecker’s remote Southern Oregon home seven years ago. Now there are six farms surrounding the densely-forested property.

Trash and toilet paper are littered around the thin wire fence that separates his forested land from each cannabis farm. As Longnecker gave me a tour of his property, a few people could be seen moving around on the property through the scattered pine trees and partially-deconstructed hoop houses. Longnecker’s partner called out to them in broken Spanish, since she believed most of the workers were Hispanic. No one answered.Aerial shots of Gary Longnecker's property.

Law enforcement around Oregon has seized tens of thousands of marijuana plants from unlicensed cannabis farms over the past two years. Chen Shu-Momg and Qike Wen were arrested as a result of the raid on The Red Mountain Golf Course in June 2021. The two men arrested at the bust, Qike Wen and Chen Shu-Momg, were released on bail and there is not a court date listed.

One of the underlying promises for legalizing cannabis was that legalization would make the illegal drug trade, with all its attendant problems of violent crime and money laundering, disappear. But 25 years into the legalization movement, as 36 states have adopted some form of legalized marijuana, the black market is booming across the country.

 

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Florida for one charges ridiculous high prices for the small amount they will sell you and require you pay a fee every few months for the privilege of sell you a extremely small amount of weed.

Today WAPO pulled the veil on Garland's BS from day one. NOTHING is being done by DOJ to investigate Trump & his co-conspirators. Garland MUST go & Dems are responsible to make that happen & demand Trump's immediate indictment on Mueller, Georgia et al. Not to is obstruction!

Who is the sponsor for this article?

DUH. This was such a foreseeable result.

Yes, controlling an actual weed that grows in many places just so that the rich can get richer by owning the licenses doesn't work well... huh?

BLACK market... How racist...

Because no one in Oregon has ever been accused of being smart!! That’s how it became the new capital of DOPEHEADS!!

Sounds like the government wants to be the only drug dealer.

'Jackson County Sheriff Nate Sickler says the tougher rules for hemp cultivation and the money lawmakers funneled to local enforcement efforts are an excellent start.' Yes, because prohibition works so well.

It only works if the price and quality is cheaper...cartels are ingrained already...

It all started with a word to try something new. My first payment came after 3 days when I invested $1000 and since then I have received countless payment, he's Worthy to be recommended Geoffrey100k

Why would people want to pay taxes for weed? I am against legalization because it brings taxation. Taxation to pay the same people who would ruin you life for a single joint few years ago. Decriminalise it and let free market deal with itm

Mix good ideas with bad policies, laws, regulations and general government incompetence and you get .... Oregon's marijuana mess.

Legal pot is taxed outrageously.

The reason there are black market growers is because there are mostly only black markets in the US still, despite all the hype even CA does not have retail shops in most places. Interstate sales/force equal of alcohol outlets as cannabis in the entire US/license legacy growers.

Illegal weed shouldn’t even be a thing. It’s a plant

Almost like….cannabis is a plant which can grow outside 🤔

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