As it turns out, illegal cannabis growers have only thrived since California legalized the recreational use of the drug in 2016, stealing business from legal sellers at half the price due to the lack of regulation or taxation.
“It’s definitely profitable for the illegal market,” Roy later said. “They’re selling greenhouse marijuana by the pound of anywhere from $500 to $2,000 here on the West Coast. But if they take that same exact product and ship that back east, it’s going for two and three times that amount.” “The state legalized pot and was hoping to make it a legitimate market. But the problem is these illegal shops are coming in and they’re undercutting all the legal shops. They’re selling product for almost half the price. So our job as law enforcement has actually gotten harder,” said Boylls.
In this undated photo provided by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, are the remains of a marijuana farm on private land in the Eel River watershed near Willits, CA.
That’s because the brilliant brain trust in Sacramento gave out far to many licenses and tax it way to high for the legal dealers to make any money or be competitive. The state of CA literally drove the consumers right back into the arms of the illegal dealers.
It's a plant. Let anyone grow. Then there is no problem. The states just want your money.....
Gene pool cleanser.
That's because the state of CA at taxes very high, as well as a high cost to become a legal grower. Once again, state action getting all shocked when their plans don't work. They learned nothing from alcohol prohibition. Alcohol bootleggers still exist today due to taxes and regs
Why not just let people grow it at home? U can brew your own beer, etc.
Watch the Tulsa King👍
But it's a vote getter.
Whooda thunk it? Hmmm!
I cannot believe that California is stooping so low, they are catering to criminals more and more ever day.
Humboldt county, baby. Knew a guy got $500/day guarding the green tops. DEA agents have disappeared in that county poking nose in where they were warned not to go. Curbed their visits big time.
🤣😂🤣😂🤣 who'd a thunk it!
It's a drug and drug addicts plus drug dealers = more crime, more drugs and an all around worst society.
In Ca. It’s considered health food equal and better than fresh squeezed orange juice-too funny keep it up. All things are legal in Ca. Why stop with weed. It’s not for me or mine but I enjoy the show. I’m 8th generation SF Ca nothing surprises me.
When some States legalize marijuana you be seeing people In their cars stopping at red lights about 15ft' away The crossword.
Shut up nerds
It should guarantee a lazy human.
Because the taxes on it are beyond theft
Illegal thrives because Mexican cartels are better distributors, more efficient, and untaxed. The Biden Admin has boosted these cartels with BILLIONS USD by ‘encouraging’ unlimited cross border immigration and drug distribution.
That's not the purpose of legalizing cannabis. The purpose is to use cannabis and other drug, street or prescribed, to control the population.
Now the population is stoned.
Of course not !!!
The illegal industry is there because of the price gouging for legal weed. Stop the price gouging and you will eliminate the incentive for the illlegal market
Americans love their drugs!!😀
This is because cali govt is so incompetent and horrible, so many regulations and taxes no wonder there is still a black market, remove the impediment and things will work properly, make people jump through hoops and they will tell you to fuck off.
You just can't tax everything govt. Sorry not sorry.
so what? when the STATE sells it made the price high so the guys working Illegal still make cash get rid of the cash to be made and the grower will go away it's that easy.
Weren't the home grown businesses there first. Who is stealing from who?
Every time California gets their hands on something they F it up. Illegal growing is always going to happen but when LA county puts a $30 tax on a $50 8th ounce of flower at a 'licensed' dispensary what do you think is going to happen?
That's because like everything else, they're doing it wrong.
Cali and the tax man...lol
Simple answer. Excessive government intervention
Let's not forget that the water situation in CA is dire and in order to grow weed, they need lots of it and go to illegal methods to grow it on top of everything else.
Because California wants the high taxes on legal weed and is using the police powers of government to rid itself of competition.
Tax Is 35 percent. We can legally grow six plants. The Cartel has free reign and open borders…gtfoh
Illegal shops selling illegal weed. Cops close them down and they open right back up. A giant waste of resources
Just wait until the underground economy takes over after the planned dollar collapse...
California democrats work with Mexican cartels
California, the 5th largest economy in the world. GOP is always attacking this blue state.
Lol.
Many ppl can’t afford to pay the 15% tax on it in Cali Others states have it as high as 20% 😬
Go figure! Hahaha
Free trade…
too bad, lol no tax for the politicians
Well it has made a downturn in weed arrests.
Yea because they tax and regulate it so much that people still rather get it on the streets than pay triple at a dispensary. Cali sucks so bad they cant even legalize cannabis correctly lol
Well of course, when the state is charging more for the same amount then your local dealer, lol
The Soviet Union always had a strong black market too
Because they don’t want to pay taxes on an already overtaxed state
Made everyone out there smarter though. Of course what wouldn’t.
Really, no relief for Law Enforcement? You are drunk, obviously. If they aren’t hawking people for cannabis then it allows the police to stop kids being murdered in school & start gun reform to protect the lives of people especially kids.
Is anything illegal anymore? I guess just speeding and traffic violations, it produces revenue and it's all just about the money and separating it from the masses.
Failure of politics
😆
Thats because it is nearly impossible to do it legitimately.
But it has created a generation of ne’er-do-wells…
Shocking😆😆
Stop.Taxes.Stop
This is where real conservatives step in and say “see, this is what happens when you over regulate and over tax.” But instead “conservatives” are just blaming it on weed and failed legalization. Too many so-called “conservatives” are total frauds.
Of course it thrives since most of it is literally done by illegal aliens for the Mexican drug cartels. And we can't insult the ILLEGAL ALIENS by arresting them for committing crimes.
The cost for the legal stuff is high. The licensing for the growers is to high for them to bring the cost down.
Please have another beer. Alcohol is such a wonderful thing. Sarcasm
Def need a quantity of good California ganj
Should be decriminalized nationally! Our jails house more drug offenders than violent criminals, millions have a record because of a literal weed. Addiction assistance, education and treating weed like alcohol is the right way.
You can see multi thousand plant grows all over Mendocino County. The cops can do next to nothing. A select few get busted, most replant the next day. Many properties have dozens of greenhouses.
Aren't there enough dopes in California?
Its sad I can grow 4 plants here in Virginia today legally, but California its illegal..Here we were jealous of California Marijuana laws..Cops today don't bother with it unless your caught smoking in your car. An oz runs $140 and I can legally carry it while driving. ⏰ changes
Police do nothing except ask for a bigger budget
We have sent them enough money so they should be able to hire people to get it done.