1. It has to do with California’s regulatory landscape, which could be compared to a vampire, or a huge blanket of strangling kudzu.

   I find it darkly hilarious, myself. California was oh so proud of how forward thinking they were, and then they turned around and strangled the legal suppliers so badly it’s still more profitable to grow pot and sell it on the sly.

   8

2. Toastrider nailed it.

   During the CA push for legalization I was passing through the northern part of the state (up by the Oregon border), and one morning read an op-ed in the local newspaper about this.

   It seems most of the local growers were strongly opposed to legalization, both because of the compliance requirements that would be imposed on anyone trying to go “legit,” and because they didn’t want newcomers interfering with their perfectly good business model.

   California is really good at regulating things to near-death.

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   1. So basically they went European Union on pot.
      Makes sense.

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   2. A reason for opposing legalization is that illegal products sell at higher margins. Enough higher to permit the paying of substantial bribes to various parts of the government, to help ensure the laws remain in place.
      This is a significant part of why those laws still exist in most countries.

      1

   3. “California is really good at regulating things to near-death.”

      That’s a bingo.

      2

3. Can’t make money selling pot in California…and in Maine it’s one of the only sectors that expanded during the panic-demic.

   I’m guessing Cali decided to tax the hell out of it so it’s cheaper from the corner? That or everyone is just growing their own…

   2

4. The government can’t make money on hookers or marijuana.

   5

   1. The hookers are in the legislature, doing dope they bought on the corner.

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      1. True story: I once encountered a young lady who, after some conversation, confessed she worked as an escort.

         I told her, ‘Oh good. That’s much better than working in politics.’

         2

5. This is the same reason you can still by moonshine. The shiners can make a run, sell it for half what vodka costs at the store and still turn a good profit.

   People spend their own money to get the largest return. You might not see all of that return but they do.

   I.e. the cost of lumber at my local lumber yard is higher than at the big box store, but I don’t have to drive 30 miles and load it myself. Local hardware store sells nuts and bolts at about the point where 5 from then if almost the same as a box of 100 from my online supplier. But I can have those nuts and bolts in 5 minutes for this project and not two days

   3

   1. It’s a small thing, but to add to your point about the cost of fasteners …

      There are some types I use fairly regularly, and for those, I keep a container around.

      If I need 5 of an oddball (for my usage) size fastener, I buy 6 or 7 at the local hardware store. (One to drop down a wormhole, one to account for me messing one up, etc.) When I’m done, unless I have an immediate use for them, I generally toss the excess. That way, I’m not going to spend an hour looking for them two years from now when I need that type of fastener again, and then spend half an hour going to the hardware store anyway.

      Is it wasteful? A little. But spending an hour looking for a $0.15 bolt isn’t a good use of my time, either; nor is spending half an hour for a return of $0.30 in assorted hardware … which then also irritates the store when they have to go restock them.

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6. I’ve always said legalize pot but I don’t trust the government not to fuck up free money somehow.

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7. Sadly, predictable.

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