Legal pot shortage fuelling underground market, retailers say

Some in the cannabis industry say two years after the legalization of recreational marijuana, there are still 12 municipalities in B.C. without legal stores, which is helping the illicit market thrive.

More on this story: www.cbc.ca/1.5842993

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44 Comments

  1. Topshelf 420 on April 18, 2021 at 5:55 pm

    As someone who wants to migrate to Canada to work in the legal cannabis industry, this worries me… Israel at least said they want to keep their taxes low, so they don’t let the black market thrive.
    Why don’t Canadian politicians understand this? It’s literally logical and easy to see that high taxes cause way too expensive cannabis, hence make the black market thrive again….. dear Lord please wake up, politicians!!!!! 🤦‍♂️😤



  2. Vanger48912 on April 18, 2021 at 5:57 pm

    You will never get rid of the black market. Hell, my guy delivers.



  3. Jose Castellanos on April 18, 2021 at 5:58 pm

    This is kinda what you see in Rural Manitoba. Regulations and prices were almost intentionally knee-capped. When one pot shop closed down due to lack of sales… people actually saw that as a win, and failed to recognize its in a municipality known for high meth use.



  4. ray locke on April 18, 2021 at 6:01 pm

    i can get a gram of shatter for 25 bucks its more than 80 bucks at the legal store why would i waste my money.



  5. ken munro on April 18, 2021 at 6:02 pm

    Funny, the government Can’t do successful what a Kid can do on a street corner .



  6. Roy R on April 18, 2021 at 6:03 pm

    They forgot to mention the stores sell crap for 150-200% more $$ than Primo black market costs



  7. ceneezer on April 18, 2021 at 6:05 pm

    As long as you poison the "legal" supply with pesticides the black/coinsure market will thrive – and likely long after

    and it *still hasn’t killed anyone yet



  8. Ryan Van Wiechen on April 18, 2021 at 6:05 pm

    Wow CBC great segment! Please do another for Ontario on how our province lost millions of dollars with their lottery system for licensing as well as over regulation on growers in regards to the infrastructure the industry had build during the early stages.



  9. I'm right you're wrong on April 18, 2021 at 6:05 pm

    Quityabitchen & Just smoke that sh*t, F*c_ing A



  10. Brian Wells on April 18, 2021 at 6:07 pm

    It’s cheaper to buy off from the black market because the State of Illinois charges too much taxes



  11. GuysCallMeShawna on April 18, 2021 at 6:08 pm

    Lol



  12. Hunter Bungay on April 18, 2021 at 6:09 pm

    Glad I live in Ottawa. The irony that anywhere in BC is a weed desert is not lost on me.



  13. Jayg324 on April 18, 2021 at 6:12 pm

    And they say stoners are lazy! Apparently us stoners have the drive and connections to out do the government!



  14. Haters Beware on April 18, 2021 at 6:12 pm

    Try adding the term "affordable" to your title and maybe it’ll be a little more clear..

    Government’s just fine with giving away thousands of dollars in pills but god forbid we pay for marijuana or CBd for someone’s health condition: No lets tax the bejesus out of them.



  15. Do van on April 18, 2021 at 6:13 pm

    What’s always going to "fuel" the underground is *price*



  16. Alan Ross on April 18, 2021 at 6:14 pm

    There are many people in the government that want to see legal weed fail.



  17. Just Larry on April 18, 2021 at 6:14 pm

    It’s not about a shortage, it’s about buying 9 month old dried out overpriced government weed ain’t really cutting it for smokers



  18. Zer Setzung on April 18, 2021 at 6:16 pm

    Lol at these Karens



  19. Thai Green on April 18, 2021 at 6:17 pm

    Its price bro not amount in stock lol



  20. Susan B on April 18, 2021 at 6:19 pm

    same thing in ontario. gotta drive 2 hours to nearest retailer or drive 1 hour, wait 6 days, for post office. nonsense



  21. Tyler Kammerer on April 18, 2021 at 6:23 pm

    Im not surprised most are getting product from the non legal market. Legal Cannabis is way too expensive and the product isn’t any good, they over dry the flower and don’t cure it properly( or don’t cure at all)



  22. DraculaDrinksGuinness on April 18, 2021 at 6:23 pm

    Incompetent Canadian government



  23. Soleil Vert Music on April 18, 2021 at 6:26 pm

    legal weed in Canada is a racket, all the VIPs cashed big money on selling their shares at the right time… it was an organized bonanza for the politically connected…



  24. TowManDave00 on April 18, 2021 at 6:27 pm

    What a colossal failure!….. All they had to do was sell good weed at a reasonable price!….. Why should I buy shity overpriced weed from the government, when I can just call my buddy and get great weed for half the money?



  25. CARNY 666 on April 18, 2021 at 6:29 pm

    I for one refuse to buy from them as long as they allow the insane packaging. The illegal market is far more environmentally friendly. This IS important to me and it should be important to the government. I purchased 3.5 grams from the government and the packaging weight more than the product. This needs to change if they want my business.



  26. Reckless Ron on April 18, 2021 at 6:29 pm

    Poor quality, moldy, chemical-laced, overpriced pot isn’t any part of the reason why people are buying from the illicit market, eh! smh



  27. Cannabis R Us on April 18, 2021 at 6:30 pm

    legal weed is grown with pgr. and thats cancerous so i’ll stick with the underground thx



  28. david steven on April 18, 2021 at 6:31 pm

    It is out of control in California also. The prices at legal stores are higher than what I am used to paying, the product is over packaged. I buy from an unlicensed retailer.



  29. Justin Cringe Blackface Channel on April 18, 2021 at 6:31 pm

    Lol good news!



  30. Brian 1958 on April 18, 2021 at 6:32 pm

    never go to the store and buy over priced dried out weed ,most of it is horrible and been dried using micro waves which diminishes the potency 🚬



  31. Kelly Wills on April 18, 2021 at 6:36 pm

    In Saskatchewan it’s the prices that keep most long term users looking to the underground. Especially medical users. Can you imagine spending $60.00 a day for a medicine if you are prescribed 3 grams a day?

    A person on Saskatchewan Assured Income Disabilities gets on average $1,100 a month.



  32. dickenstom on April 18, 2021 at 6:38 pm

    Government can never do anything right



  33. Ryan Syropiatko on April 18, 2021 at 6:38 pm

    Its got to do with the price of legal cannabis. Ita almost double the black market.

    Maybe if the LP’s stopped being so greedy and actually tried to compete maybe the legal market would grow.



  34. Mr T J Peno on April 18, 2021 at 6:40 pm

    Can you interview the government about all the issues and why they have ignored the issues?



  35. hey you on April 18, 2021 at 6:41 pm

    Where is that shop keepers mask?



  36. YTSynn YT on April 18, 2021 at 6:45 pm

    Prices are just way to high at the stores.



  37. James Jordan on April 18, 2021 at 6:46 pm

    Why is that woman wearing a curtain?



  38. T XYZ on April 18, 2021 at 6:49 pm

    Well I’m on medical marajuana and what appears to me to be driving the street/underground market is price gouging !!!! Of course mine is state regulated. As an example of the cost, strongest tincture/oil I can get is either just CBD oil (no THC in it) will run $130/oz !!!! The same with a max of 660mg of THC in the CBD oil runs the same. Or you can get the same mixtures in a gummy bear form. The gummy’s are cut into squares which would fully fit on a US dime — those cost you $5/1 gummy. Yep. for 1 single gummy about the same size as a dime is $5 each !!!
    One can get all this stuff off the streets for less than half these prices. Only catch off the street is one doesn’t know for certain of what you are actually getting, but at the huge cost savings compared to what the state regulated stuff is, is still one hell of an incentive !!! Now there are also some "hidden" charges. You must see a pain management specialist for a marijuana prescription once a year, and you must pay $200 fee to the state to get a state medical marijuana card each year as well, then another $60 fee to the Doctor on top of you office visit fee for "paper work" so as you can see, between the medical profession and more so the state, they are profiting greatly from those in dire need of pain relief. So yes, at the exorbitant costs from the state, the incentive for people to go to the streets instead is still quite high, especially from the elderly who are on low, fixed incomes !!!!! Just goes to show you, gov’t is more concerned about money and power than they are for the well being of their citizens !!!



  39. OrMoD Lepper on April 18, 2021 at 6:50 pm

    Whelp……the retailers are wrong. Garbage products, inflated prices and cronyism.



  40. Adam on April 18, 2021 at 6:50 pm

    all the best grey market stuffs outta BC



  41. Johh Smith on April 18, 2021 at 6:52 pm

    Maybe it’s the product. 25% shrinkage and what’s with it powdering in your fingers like it’s been washed in alcohol.



  42. Unpopular Patriot on April 18, 2021 at 6:53 pm

    Buy from First Nations so you know not a cent is going to the corrupt government.



  43. Boris on April 18, 2021 at 6:54 pm

    I am 58 years old and can not but legal bud without Photo ID
    but a 19 year old with a drivers license can. So we are forced to
    buy on the Black Market. Cannabis NB will not even let me in the doors
    and have security guards with Pepper Spray



  44. 0oSteveTheCanadiano0 on April 18, 2021 at 6:55 pm

    Stop selling 3.5grams for 60$ a piece. People will come