In part...
"Pot prices could drop from $375 an ounce under the state's current medical marijuana law to as little as $38 per ounce before taxes as legal pot suddenly becomes available to the public, RAND researhers (sic) concluded."
"The California Board of Equalization studied the financial impacts of pot while evaluating a bill introduced in the Legislature last year that would have taxed and regulated marijuana like alcohol. Sales taxes and a $50 per ounce excise tax on commercial pot sales would generate $1.4 billion for the state, according to that study."
':shock:' $50 per ounce excise tax? Pass me some of that gear they are smoking. ':lol:' The story also suggests that local (counties) could assess a similar tax, sending the price of commercial weed to over $100 per ounce. Better than current prices, but when you can grow it yourself for next to nothing... read on.
"But that estimate could prove overly optimistic, depending on how pot users and sellers respond to the idea of paying hefty taxes on a weed that can be grown at home, the RAND anaylsis said."
':lol:' I have known this since the first time I fantasized about a world in which weed was legal. There definitely is a market for commercial weed, but if the local and state governments get too ridiculous with taxes, it's back to the black market for some. I liken this to beer or wine - we can make our own, although typically the results come up short, especially when compared to what's available commercially. Even though growing weed can be as basic as planting a seed in the ground and watching it grow, not everybody is going to be able to grow connoisseur-level gear.
Something that I have read little about is what the estimates are for Hashish. Hash will definitely be a money maker since it's not easy to make. I have never known Americans to be big Hash smokers though, but who knows.
My theory is that when weed is legalized, there will be a market for commercial gear because the typical American can't or won't be bothered with growing their own. I think given a choice between buying gear from a local dealer vs. guaranteed quality commercial, I think most would go the commercial route.
Other means of revenue will be realized from the increased sale of growing supplies, not to mention the increase in water and electricity usage. Given the fact that California experiences water shortages, growers could be in a bind if water is rationed. Can anyone say Culligans? '
' Time to think about opening a franchise, especially in high-density suburbs. All those Finkelstein shit kids (Cheech and Chong) who think they can achieve instant karma by growing their own will be ripe for the picking. ':shock:' ':o' ':lol:'
