“What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered.”
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
I learned that a weed is simply something growing where you don't want it to grow.
Could be a mighty oak or microscopic algae
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Why is medical marijuana so expensive?
- Thread starter JJScorpio
- Start date
I learned that a weed is simply something growing where you don't want it to grow.
Could be a mighty oak or microscopic algae
Dankblueberries
Member
There is nothing wrong with making a profit for hard work.
There is nothing wrong with making a profit for hard work.
To the people complaining about prices and the evil of making a profit,
Do you work for free? Are you giving to the sick? Running a dispensary and or growing isn't as easy as people make it seem. For one, a grow op is ridiculously expensive to start up. Renting and outfitting a dispensary isn't cheap either. If pounds go for $4000 on the street, why would anyone sell to a dispensary for less? Point is, the dispensary is buying for near street prices anyway.
Growers do not have social lives. While you are drinking at the bar, or watching your movie, or posting on icmag, your neighborhood grower is on his knees tending to his trees late in the evening. There are a lot of sacrifices growers make.
I have watched a lot of people fail miserably, so it takes a skill set not everyone has, or is willing to go through all the hard work it takes to learn these skills. I am not saying there isn't good money in it, there is, but, it is not a walk in the park. Huge investment, major dedication, and a genuine interest in the actual product. The ones that are in it for just the money, usually do not succeed. If it is so expensive, go buy a light and grow it! Entitlement is rampant in this country!
AND to top it off, my dispensary sells our product for LESS than street prices! $45 an eighth. Not because I have some construed concern for the sick, its because I like to hook it up! Its just good business.
There is nothing wrong with making a profit for hard work.
To the people complaining about prices and the evil of making a profit,
Do you work for free? Are you giving to the sick? Running a dispensary and or growing isn't as easy as people make it seem. For one, a grow op is ridiculously expensive to start up. Renting and outfitting a dispensary isn't cheap either. If pounds go for $4000 on the street, why would anyone sell to a dispensary for less? Point is, the dispensary is buying for near street prices anyway.
Growers do not have social lives. While you are drinking at the bar, or watching your movie, or posting on icmag, your neighborhood grower is on his knees tending to his trees late in the evening. There are a lot of sacrifices growers make.
I have watched a lot of people fail miserably, so it takes a skill set not everyone has, or is willing to go through all the hard work it takes to learn these skills. I am not saying there isn't good money in it, there is, but, it is not a walk in the park. Huge investment, major dedication, and a genuine interest in the actual product. The ones that are in it for just the money, usually do not succeed. If it is so expensive, go buy a light and grow it! Entitlement is rampant in this country!
AND to top it off, my dispensary sells our product for LESS than street prices! $45 an eighth. Not because I have some construed concern for the sick, its because I like to hook it up! Its just good business.
K
KermitTheHermit
If I take Colorado's 6/3/2 (6 plants total, 3 flowering, 2 ounces of product), rules as an example, the economies of scale are wasteful. Typically, my grow will be three plants under a 400W.
I can pull more than 2 ozs from that. Go to a 600W light, and there's another significant improvement in yield, still with the 3 plants, and a minimal increase in cost due to the electric.
Now I've got more bud than the 2 ozs. I'm supposed to have, even though I stuck with the three flowering plants that I'm allowed. And its more bud than I can use myself. If I went outdoors, there's even more surplus.
Colorado's amendment 20 has left the distribution as a huge grey area, and the capitalist's have jumped in. Nothing wrong with that, it's what capitalists do. So, I think in a lot of cases like mine, people are signing up as contract growers to the commercial dispensaries - you started growing, you've got excess, you may as well convert it to $$$!
What I'd like to see is a true non-profit coop, where us small scale growers could have a way to pool resources, exchange our surplus, provide low-cost products to the needy and still cover some of our costs. So I walk in with some of my surplus, maybe donate some, sell some, and take home something different.
Before I do that, I'd like to see a decent legal structure that I'm comfortable with. One reason that there are so many sketchy operators out there is that the law is vague. The enterprise is still risky, so operators want big $$$ to cover the risk. A lot of them are fly-by-nights...if the legal situation goes to shit, they'll be gone down the road.
All I know for sure, is that after seeing the $20 grams at my local dispensary, my own grow will be my primary source. I'll buy at the dispensary until I can harvest, and I may pick up the odd gram now and then, to try something different, if it's top shelf . I may buy some clones from them.
As far as them being my primary supplier, it won't happen. I know they have costs associated with running their business, and they want to make a buck, but they can't compete with me for my own supply. That's capitalism at work right there.
I can pull more than 2 ozs from that. Go to a 600W light, and there's another significant improvement in yield, still with the 3 plants, and a minimal increase in cost due to the electric.
Now I've got more bud than the 2 ozs. I'm supposed to have, even though I stuck with the three flowering plants that I'm allowed. And its more bud than I can use myself. If I went outdoors, there's even more surplus.
Colorado's amendment 20 has left the distribution as a huge grey area, and the capitalist's have jumped in. Nothing wrong with that, it's what capitalists do. So, I think in a lot of cases like mine, people are signing up as contract growers to the commercial dispensaries - you started growing, you've got excess, you may as well convert it to $$$!
What I'd like to see is a true non-profit coop, where us small scale growers could have a way to pool resources, exchange our surplus, provide low-cost products to the needy and still cover some of our costs. So I walk in with some of my surplus, maybe donate some, sell some, and take home something different.
Before I do that, I'd like to see a decent legal structure that I'm comfortable with. One reason that there are so many sketchy operators out there is that the law is vague. The enterprise is still risky, so operators want big $$$ to cover the risk. A lot of them are fly-by-nights...if the legal situation goes to shit, they'll be gone down the road.
All I know for sure, is that after seeing the $20 grams at my local dispensary, my own grow will be my primary source. I'll buy at the dispensary until I can harvest, and I may pick up the odd gram now and then, to try something different, if it's top shelf . I may buy some clones from them.
As far as them being my primary supplier, it won't happen. I know they have costs associated with running their business, and they want to make a buck, but they can't compete with me for my own supply. That's capitalism at work right there.
Balazar
Member
One more thing I want to add is most dispensaries I have been to will ask for your caregivership and then only give you a small discount or sell for sell it to you the price it should be. If they tell me 60/70 an eighth I tell them to go kick rocks! If the product is delivered to the distributor for less than illegal street prices in most cases why should I pay more than I would on the street? I say if you don't like them overgrow them because they are just as greedy as the government trying to take advantage of sick people because they can make a buck. This situation reminds me of gas stations price gouging after a natural disaster.
K
KermitTheHermit
I guess another way I could say all of that is...it's not that the rules are designed to hold prices up...it's that they're not designed not to. Water seeks its own level.
And you can bet that when it comes time to try to define a structure, the dispensary operators will have some kind of lobby to ensure that the rules provide a way to hold prices up. I read recently that some of the dispensaries in Northern Colorado (Longmont?) were talking about forming some kind of trade association. One of the things that associations do is lobby for their own benefit.
And you can bet that when it comes time to try to define a structure, the dispensary operators will have some kind of lobby to ensure that the rules provide a way to hold prices up. I read recently that some of the dispensaries in Northern Colorado (Longmont?) were talking about forming some kind of trade association. One of the things that associations do is lobby for their own benefit.
greengorillaz
Member
Or how about this..
Because our FREEDOM is PRICELESS...
If you're vending back to clubs, get what you can for it and run.
You want cheap prices? Dispensaries all over selling HIGH quality medicine much cheaper then street prices when they break it down into eighths.
You want ounces of top quality meds? Grow your own.
Because our FREEDOM is PRICELESS...
If you're vending back to clubs, get what you can for it and run.
You want cheap prices? Dispensaries all over selling HIGH quality medicine much cheaper then street prices when they break it down into eighths.
You want ounces of top quality meds? Grow your own.
Twisted Metal
Member
Lets just say GREED plays a huge role when it comes to pricing. I think the biggest reason is that people will pay inflated prices because they have no other way of acquiring the product and because they are addicted. I mean hell the prices for cigarettes in NY is up to $7+ a pack, shit 10 years ago they were like $1.25 a pack.
The thing that disgusts me the most is even good friends like to over charge and give you the stupid comment "well if you dont wanna pay those prices then dont because someone else will". But when they want something they refuse to pay the same price they charged you even if the pot is of higher grade.
I say fuck them all and may karma strike down upon thee. I will close this replay with saying our economy got this way and will continue for the sheer fact that GREED got us here and it aint gonna change. Everyone including the best of friends will find a way to screw you one way or the other.
The thing that disgusts me the most is even good friends like to over charge and give you the stupid comment "well if you dont wanna pay those prices then dont because someone else will". But when they want something they refuse to pay the same price they charged you even if the pot is of higher grade.
I say fuck them all and may karma strike down upon thee. I will close this replay with saying our economy got this way and will continue for the sheer fact that GREED got us here and it aint gonna change. Everyone including the best of friends will find a way to screw you one way or the other.
Greed conquered the west, it encouraged our independence movement as one of the driving factors, greed drives the businesses and the benefits we have today. Do you think that without the assembly line and Ford's greed everyone would have a car? Price is something you have two choices in the face of. You either choose that it is worth it. Or you decide that the asking price is not worth it. How about the work that you do? I mean it only costs you the cost of the materials you work with plus time. How much is your time worth? Growing pot takes time and attention over a prolonged period of time. Is their time not worth as much as your time? Furthermore, mj is not addictive in the same way that cigarettes are so to compare the two is completely disingenuous. People "overcharge" you? So what does that mean? They value the weed at more than you want to pay for it. I guess that means you have a choice to make then doesn't it? Is it worth it? If yes, buy it, if not, leave it.
Market dictates the price, supply and demand. The value is set by what a consumer is willing to pay for it. Haters are always crying about how much others make, someone is geting rich on almost every aspect of your life. Your cars, gas, food, electricity, water, gas, and every other item you have or consume. Someone is sitting on top collecting their market share, letting their technical know how, hardwork, and investment work for them. Don't hate on the normal Joe who supplys you with something you cherish so much making a buck. Get in where you fit in!
Dankblueberries
Member
Its just supply and demand, MAN! It is obviously worth the money, because everyone is paying it. How else would you establish a monetary value on anything. The market establishes it for you. If you pay those prices, you are saying "this is worth this amount to me" and YOU are encouraging those prices. The problem here is not greed, it is that your financial situation is not able to comfortably support the things you would like to purchase. There are ways to get it cheaper. But that takes work, investment, time and energy, and who wants to do that?!
But then again it is the beauty of Cannabis as medicine.. it can be grown with relative easy in relatively small places.
Most Reputable Clubs have programs for qualified low income patients.
Most Reputable Clubs have programs for qualified low income patients.
K
KermitTheHermit
True, but the market where I live, in Colorado, isn't operating efficiently, due to the laws that restrict demand (MMJ requires a doctors recommendation) and supply (6 plants/3 vegging/2 oz finished).
The Colorado MMJ amendment is great, but the rules create a market that artificially inflates prices.
M
mrred
damn only 2oz?
I really enjoy the taste of herb1)when the medical pot law was passed in ca it was called the "compassionate use" law not the "less get rich off the sick law"
2)using your argument of supply and demand determines the price
you would probably justify selling water at$1,000 glasss to someone in
the desert...what a compassionate guy...
how about refining cheap pot into `100% thc...ever hear of hash or
hash oil???? and its dam near close to 100% thc...and can be made in your
kitchen....low tech too..
stop trying to grow the "perfect pot plant"
als guy
1)You cannot argue with simple supply and demand. Want to buy a liver for 5 million dollars? Not alot out there, especially ones compatiable with you...They cannot sell it less then the blackmarket, because then it would be the sick get rich off selling their medication? Got vicadin? When there is so much weed we cannot sell it all prices will come way down, but that time isn't near. Especially enough to make your oil, and you want to use lower grade stuff which would in turn mean more plants, more effort, more nutrients, more soil mixing, more care, time, trimming, curing, making of the oil, resources, workers, taxes, and thats just outside, lets not even step inside.
Compassionate use? You should be compassionate about being able to use, and having such great medication available to you. If not grow your own, or purchase something within your means.
2)Depends on how much water I have (supply and demand) That last glass would be pricelss, 2nd to last glass very expensive, and so on
3)Thats cool that you like to use 100% THC oil, but most of us here have a passion for this plant, we love the taste, the aroma, the feel, the way it grows and everything else about it. Whichever way you chose to medicate is your choice, and whichever way I chose is mine.
If you can't beat em join em
(Hater Alert Sounds Off)
Compassionate use? You should be compassionate about being able to use, and having such great medication available to you. If not grow your own, or purchase something within your means.
2)Depends on how much water I have (supply and demand) That last glass would be pricelss, 2nd to last glass very expensive, and so on
3)Thats cool that you like to use 100% THC oil, but most of us here have a passion for this plant, we love the taste, the aroma, the feel, the way it grows and everything else about it. Whichever way you chose to medicate is your choice, and whichever way I chose is mine.
If you can't beat em join em
(Hater Alert Sounds Off)
B
Blue Dot
But these are the same reasons drug dealers use to justify what they do. (Pot, heroin, coke, big Pharma, etc.)
If you think 215 was created so that drug dealers would have a safe haven in the law you are mistaken.
Latest posts
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The DEA to move cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III- Latest: phunkeeboodah
Latest posts
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The DEA to move cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III
- Latest: phunkeeboodah
