[AvidLerner]

Two years ago, the Washington state began an unprecedented policy experiment by allowing large-scale production and sale of recreational marijuana to the public. The effects on public health and safety and on the relationship of law enforcement to minority communities will take years to manifest fully, but one impact has become abundantly clear: Legalized marijuana is getting very cheap very quickly.

Marijuana price data from Washington’s Liquor and Cannabis Board was aggregated by Steve Davenport of the Pardee RAND Graduate School and Jonathan Caulkins, a professor at Carnegie Mellon University. After a transitory rise in the first few months, which Davenport attributes to supply shortages as the system came on line, both retail prices and wholesale prices have plummeted. Davenport said that prices “are now steadily falling at about 2 percent per month. If that trend holds, prices may fall 25 percent each year going forward.”
Ratio of sales value to weight, $ per gram, Washington state

wapo.st/wonkblog

Although some observers will be surprised by these sharp price declines – perhaps particularly some investors in the emerging legal marijuana industry – seasoned drug policy analysts have long predicted this effect. As noted by Caulkins and his colleagues in the book "Marijuana Legalization: What Everyone Needs to Know," prohibition imposes many costs on drug producers. They must operate covertly, forgo advertising, pay higher wages to compensate for the risk of arrest, and lack recourse to civil courts for resolving contract disputes. Legal companies in contrast endure none of these costs and also can benefit from economies of scale that push production costs down.

Falling pot prices create winners and losers. Because state taxes are based on a percentage of the sales price, declining prices mean each sale puts less money in the public purse. On the other hand, bargain-basement prices undercut the black market, bringing the public reduced law enforcement costs, both in terms of tax dollars spent on jail and the damage done to individuals who are arrested.

For consumers who enjoy pot occasionally while suffering no adverse effects from it, low prices will be a welcome but minor benefit; precisely because they consume modest amounts, the price declines are only a modest win. On the downside, young people tend to be price-sensitive consumers, and their use of inexpensive pot may rise over time, as might that of problematic marijuana users.
An insider’s look at pot farming around the world
View Photos
A few places where cannabis is farmed for medical or recreational use.

How cheap can legal pot become? Says Caulkins, “It’s just a plant. There will always be the marijuana equivalent of organically grown specialty crops sold at premium prices to yuppies, but at the same time, no-frills generic forms could become cheap enough to give away as a loss leader – the way bars give patrons beer nuts and hotels leave chocolates on your pillow.”

Keith Humphreys is a professor of psychiatry and mental health policy director at Stanford University.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...is-collapsing/

What do you think?
peace

[aridbud]

Falling pot prices create winners and losers. Because state taxes are based on a percentage of the sales price, declining prices mean each sale puts less money in the public purse. On the other hand, bargain-basement prices undercut the black market, bringing the public reduced law enforcement costs, both in terms of tax dollars spent on jail and the damage done to individuals who are arrested.

There's your answer.

Recall years ago while working in a medical clinic. Twice this elderly lady came in stoned out of her mind. She smelled liker gasoline....I just figured she sat at the back of a city bus until the light bulb moment!! Gas was cheaper than alcohol (by far)....she was huffing or sniffing gas!!!

So, falling prices...good and bad...but Washington (as with Colorado) is still raking in the tax piles!

[MyBrother]

Washington is in a sad place.

Med patients have been left out to dry, grassroots businesses are regulated to death, ungodly tax rates, no knowledge about pesticides and the commercially grown product (which is now the only option) is most often tasteless, odorless and soulless.

As someone who has been (and still is) involved as a stakeholder in the WSLCB process, they are so under-educated and overwhelmed. Unfortunately, the WSLCB has been wooed by slick businessmen who are always three steps ahead, and lining their pockets.

But hey, it's legal here.

[grassyknoll]

Producers with deep pockets push the price down undercutting the smaller guys, driving them out of business. Whoever can afford the biggest losses wins.

[Papusadrianus]

Originally Posted by grassyknoll

Producers with deep pockets push the price down undercutting the smaller guys, driving them out of business. Whoever can afford the biggest losses wins.

Thats capitalism for yer
Easy pal

[GastroGrower]

This situation really is tremendously unfortunate. Not only have they destroyed any reliable resources for patients, they've set the entire system up to suffer.

[farmerlion]

The truth is as long as people are willing to settle for low quality. Bud Lite and McDonalds will remain huge companies. A happy meal biggy sized is $8.00 I can buy a nice steak for $10.00 Even sadder are the majority of grower/ breeders. Looking forward to selling you over fertilized Indica plants to make a quick buck. No flushing, quick dried, no curing. Enjoy your tasteless crap! you paid for. Auto Flowering plants are the kiss of death to all genetics world wide. Ruderalis is the cold two day old double cheese burger from McDonalds in marijuana terms. Please don't be fooled into thinking it is anything more. If you buy into the latest greatest name thrown out in a rap song??? Enjoy your Bud Lite and cheese burger. Please enjoy great marijuana by studying and growing your own organically in soil. Peace

[GastroGrower]

Hi Farmerlion, providing for yourself is obviously ideal, but not everyone is in a position to do so. I just wish there were more public options to help patients.

[shaggyballs]

Funny I stated Vote NO to legalize cannabis....Or else in 2014, I basically got run outta town. They called me every name in the book too.
Click here for the whole story!

Here are some of my quotes that fired people up:
"Good luck with you government supplied GACK!!
That you just paid $600 for and it may or may not even be effective for you!"

"So if it is legal..... you will still go to jail for being in possession of cannabis not grown by the government!"

"I am all for legalization as long as it will not be run by the likes of the ATF"

I saw this coming and I tried to inform the people of WA. the best I knew how.
"The message is simple: We don’t want the Liquor Control Board, the states’ liquor distributor, writing rules for controlling medical cannabis and we want that provision stricken from the state budget bill.
If you don’t take action, this could very well be the end of medical cannabis."

"All I am asking is to be aware of what is happening behind the scenes.
I wish you good luck with legalization to those that want it..But consider yourself warned!"

Now it seems to be coming true.
It is sad to see things the way they are there now.
I hope other states learned a valuable lesson from Washington's so called "Legalization"
But $$ Money $$ talks.

Peace
shag

[Andyo]

Originally Posted by shaggyballs

Funny I stated Vote NO to legalize cannabis....Or else in 2014, I basically got run outta town. They called me every name in the book too.
Click here for the whole story!

Here are some of my quotes that fired people up:
"Good luck with you government supplied GACK!!
That you just paid $600 for and it may or may not even be effective for you!"

"So if it is legal..... you will still go to jail for being in possession of cannabis not grown by the government!"

"I am all for legalization as long as it will not be run by the likes of the ATF"

I saw this coming and I tried to inform the people of WA. the best I knew how.
"The message is simple: We don’t want the Liquor Control Board, the states’ liquor distributor, writing rules for controlling medical cannabis and we want that provision stricken from the state budget bill.
If you don’t take action, this could very well be the end of medical cannabis."

"All I am asking is to be aware of what is happening behind the scenes.
I wish you good luck with legalization to those that want it..But consider yourself warned!"

Now it seems to be coming true.
It is sad to see things the way they are there now.
I hope other states learned a valuable lesson from Washington's so called "Legalization"
But $$ Money $$ talks.

Peace
shag

Its exactly what i saw,
I just see cowards ,no balls
This is my war you cowards are fuking ,lol

Very obvious how it will go ,Taxed and big business,
The fact you have differing state laws is part of why its happening and of course greed.
The goverment legal weed in uruguay is rubbish and contaminated with pesticides.
Thats were legalisation is headed.A