A lot of people are looking forward to the upcoming changes to cannabis laws in Canada, especially as it relates to black market transactions. On January 18, 2019, the federal government announced that it would begin regulating and restricting access to cannabis in July of that year.
This is called legalization and it occurs when the government controls the distribution and availability of cannabis products for commercial use. Prior to this date, anyone could purchase any type of cannabis product without any regulations or restrictions. This was not good enough for some people, so they started developing ways to legally purchase cannabis.
Some of these ways people bought came from countries where medicinal and recreational marijuana is legal, but black market sales are not permitted. Others purchased their marijuana from friends or through proprietary websites. Still others purchased from legitimate stores that stock legal drugs such as pharmaceuticals, vitamins, and supplies.
How the black market works
The black market is a series of networks that safeguard illegal goods. These networks vary from city to city, but typically feature tight-knit groups that coordinate sales and distribution of drugs and other contraband.
Although the illicit drug market has been largely dominated by national and international organized crime, legal cannabis entrepreneurs are beginning to enter the fold. This is a positive development for consumers, as mainstream businesses begin to experiment with legalization.
By sharing illegal products in public places like coffee shops or drugstores, consumers are more likely to trust them and buy them. It also makes it easier for law enforcement to identify and takedown these groups, which reduces demand on the black market.
These new consumers are not necessarily financing drug cartels, but they do help spread awareness of cannabis as an acceptable alternative.
The impact of legalization on the black market
Recent changes in how marijuana is regulated on the black market are changing the game for drug traffickers and putting a stop to some of the more lucrative business models used by them.
As the legality of marijuana continues to expand, drug traffickers will have to consider other avenues for sales. As more people learn about marijuana through medical use and legalization, there will be more opportunities for money-hungry operations.
Businesses will continue to exist without legal status, but with a lot less prestige. People will still want it, but they’ll trust someone else to sell it instead of herself due to how unregulated it is.
This will hurt individuals who are only selling themselves because they don’t have an appropriate source for their product. There is no barrier between buyers and sellers on these illicit markets, which is why people are looking forward to the changes that legalization brings.
Limited supply
Largely due to the increased popularity of black markets, the legality of cannabis is increasing by the day. There are now regulations in place that allow for small-scale cannabis operations, and more have been opening every day.
Many start investing in cannabis as a way to stay away from hard drugs such as heroin and cocaine, and to also gain control over their addiction. By being able to legally purchase cannabis, people are more likely to consume it regularly which is good for them.
There has been a lot of discussion about the negative effects of limited supply on the black market. Many cite it as driving drug consumption down and creating desperation among individuals looking for dope. These factors may contribute to increased illicit drug use among individuals who are struggling with addiction.
Higher prices
While the price of cannabis is less regulated in the United States, it is more expensive in Canada. In Canada, cannabis is legal but not regulated. As a result, people purchase it at a premium rate from illegal sources.
In Canada, cannabis is sold at a premium rate due to its illegality. A standard-sized bag of weed sells for around $10-$12 dollars, which is a lot of money. A standard-size bottle of wine costs around $8, so pairing cannabis and wine makes sense.
By being illegally sold at a higher price, people develop an addiction to the drug as they learn where to buy it. Over time they realize it is worth paying the increased cost for it, which increases its popularity.
Legal cannabis sells out
Historically, black market transactions have been violent and illegal. Now that more and more people are introduced to the drug through the market, these habits are changing.
Many people now prefer cannabis over the regular drug market due to its legal status and its different effects on the body. It is also believed that this has a positive effect on mental health as people see that it can be used for medicinal purposes and not just consumed for fun.
However, there are still problems with the black market. Criminals do not feel comfortable using marijuana because of how cheap it is in the legal system. People who are new to marijuana abuse because they cannot afford it away from the legal system.
Quality differences
While there are differences between the black market and the legal cannabis market, they both use and depend on quality products. The illegal cannabis market is run by lower quality products and less organized sales teams.
Lower quality cannabis can have trouble reaching its target audience. People who are invested in buying it can be disappointed, or even leave the product unopened if it does not meet their expectations.
People who work in sales departments or with marketing campaigns can be involved in quality control. If something is sold out, they can check if it was a good product or not to see if someone was satisfied.
If something did not meet expectations, it could be thrown away or replaced with another product that did what they wanted. This is important for keeping the sales team honest and recruits involved in the game.
Regulations and restrictions
There are many ways to get your cannabis fixes, from the black market to regulated stores. Some of these ways to get your fix is through the marijuana industry, which has increased in popularity over recent years.
More and more people are finding ways to deal with their stress and overall well-being through the use of cannabis. From using CBDs instead of THCs for pain relief to choosing a pot plant that is bred for Skywalker Kush’s flowers instead of its seeds, there are many ways newbies and experts alike can benefit from legalized cannabis.
There are many ways to consume cannabis, so not everyone is limited to smoking or drinking. There are also pipes, bongs, vaporizers, and other methods of consumption.
THC content regulations
Currently, black market cannabis products are often made with high concentrations of THC. This is due to the fact that there is much demand for this type of product on the market.
By having these regulations in place, it has introduced restrictions on how people purchase cannabis. Before, it was a different story- you could easily buy two bags of weed for the price of one now.
The average person does not need very much cannabis and can easily hide what they have been taking in, so people buy less than they would normally. With more regulation in place, people are more likely to report what they are taking because they know they will get caught if they try to conceal it.
This effecting the black market is huge! Because people know what it costs to buy cannabis, they are being more careful about how much they take.
