QC Bud: The Black Market's Last Stand

Quebec loves weed – the number of consumers here has been estimated as high as 1.2 million. But despite being home to ¼ of Canada’s cannabis users, the market here is way behind. Instead, 90% of the industry is controlled by the black market, with organized crime pulling the strings.

But with legalization around the corner, small and large businesses alike are gearing up to compete with criminal groups for Quebec’s lucrative weed industry – valued at around 2.5 billion dollars. Meanwhile, biker gangs like the Hells Angels are expanding and they’re not going to just hand over their share of the market.

This VICE doc explores what the complicated transition from a black to a legal cannabis market will look like in Quebec. We spend time with both illegal and legal players as they begin making big moves in the province – from former criminals who want to go legit, to licensed medical producers preparing to tap into the massive recreational market. And we look into whether Ottawa’s tactics to loosen the criminal stronghold on weed will succeed in Quebec.

WATCH NEXT: SMOKEABLES: How to Roll a Plumber’s Joint: http://bit.ly/2hSUk8i

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50 Comments

  1. Operator 9 on May 8, 2022 at 9:02 pm

    dont fear the bikers you can deal with them, but big business? thats the real evil to contend with. monopoly has ruined enough western society already. why do we only want a few weed barons? is letting people have opportunity so terrible? just makes you hate the system.



  2. Soccer is Life Training on May 8, 2022 at 9:03 pm

    Thank for the Info as an Montrealer



  3. Phil Haze on May 8, 2022 at 9:03 pm

    Quality over weight



  4. pnggnp2000 on May 8, 2022 at 9:08 pm

    Mediocre le monde on pas les plugs on dirais tout lmonde fume du foin dans la rue moi j’ai jamais eu ten dla marde dans la rue la



  5. Zam1Fear on May 8, 2022 at 9:08 pm

    Main reasons why the black market in the US hasn’t gone, is because it isn’t legal in all states. There is still a great demand for Cannabis in states where it’s illegal so people in legalized states sell it off elsewhere at high prices. It will be legal everywhere in Canada with almost every Canadian inhabitant being allow to cultivate. Where will the demand be, really?



  6. chad rocca on May 8, 2022 at 9:08 pm

    Bikers did/ do speed, aka meth.



  7. lyne verville on May 8, 2022 at 9:09 pm

    est ce que pour les plant sais trop taux pour maitre dehor car jai pas asser de lumi`re sa menque de lumiere jai laisse 1jour dehor sais bien passe mais ils vont tu geler



  8. Marcus Cassius on May 8, 2022 at 9:10 pm

    Today we all know he is wrong.



  9. the Bullring Live on May 8, 2022 at 9:10 pm

    Compare all the hoops they have to jump through compared to a farmers roadside stand:
    Field retail stands

    For farmers who have no interest in selling value-added products, previous regulations for on-farm sales still exist as a re-named category called “field retail stands.”

    Field retail stands are restricted to selling whole produce and shell eggs grown by the producer on or near the site, exempt from standard wholesale size and pack requirements. These traditional field stands are exempt from California Health and Safety Code, as long as they adhere to the previous set of rules.

    Direct sales to chefs and organizations

    With the regulations, chefs and charitable organizations—who sell or distribute directly to consumers—are now also allowed to purchase product exempt from wholesale size and pack regulations at farm stands, field retails stands or farmers markets.

    However, farmers who sell to chefs or organizations from their farm stand (or farmers market stand) must provide these buyers with a memorandum that lists the name and address of the producer, and type and quantity of the produce purchased. A basic bill of sale or a container label including this information meets this requirement.

    As with other direct-to-consumer sales, all fresh fruits, nuts and vegetables must still meet maturity and quality standards set by the California Code of Regulations.



  10. Goodies Stores on May 8, 2022 at 9:11 pm

    Such an interesting world of herb, click here for more …



  11. Devan Garcia on May 8, 2022 at 9:12 pm

    French : ahhhhh swe ahhhhh jaaa ahhhhhhhh



  12. TheDaggz on May 8, 2022 at 9:13 pm

    Wtf? "Organized crime won’t let go of it’s market so easily" How is that the argument for them not being able to produce legal weed?!
    IT’S THE LAWS AND GOVERNMENTS PREVENTING THEM, IT’S AUTHORITIES, NOT THE BLACK MARKET PREVENTING THEM FROM HAVING A COMPLETELY LEGAL OPERATION YOU DICKWAD!!



  13. Northern John on May 8, 2022 at 9:15 pm

    Why do people always use outlaw mcs as there skapegoat ow if they don’t let us sell weed the angels will and then they will kill everyone are you joking?



  14. Mad in quebec on May 8, 2022 at 9:16 pm

    so fucking right.. the legalisation changed nothing..the service is crap and so is the weed….



  15. Wout Meulemans on May 8, 2022 at 9:16 pm

    wtf is this french with engish mixed



  16. joseph smith on May 8, 2022 at 9:17 pm

    Availability is the #1 thing



  17. TheDaggz on May 8, 2022 at 9:19 pm

    So hard to listen to this when they swap from English to French constantly, mid sentences.
    Just keep it to either language, let me read or let me listen, don’t have me turning my head every 2 seconds to understand what’s being said >.<



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  19. Paul Shearer on May 8, 2022 at 9:19 pm

    There’s always going to be people that buy illegally because it’s cheap, and people that buy a more expensive product because it is regulated and they know what they’re getting. The legalization process will bring a huge influx of people into the market that never used pot before or not since they were kids. Overall I don’t believe that the black market won’t be affected, at least in the long term.



  20. David Earles on May 8, 2022 at 9:21 pm

    I live in Hochelaga, this is more than a little exaggerated.



  21. Its 4:20 on May 8, 2022 at 9:21 pm

    Long live black market



  22. noobslayer10101 on May 8, 2022 at 9:22 pm

    The rest of the country is not different. I still don’t use dispensaries the product and price is not worth it.



  23. Arabella Diana on May 8, 2022 at 9:26 pm

    Deal with Cracklady on Telegram and thanks me later 100% fast and reliable for Fresh marijuana strain 💨.
    !



  24. Hyra Elle on May 8, 2022 at 9:27 pm

    13:50 Please do NOT show off outside security camera’s. There are enough landmarks to pinpoint this location.



  25. Sylfix on May 8, 2022 at 9:27 pm

    As a french and english speaker I love how half these people speak franglais



  26. Jose Pedro Roriz on May 8, 2022 at 9:30 pm

    Only in Canada,their way to nice people



  27. Bob Anderson on May 8, 2022 at 9:31 pm

    Cracklady on telegram is the best plug for all kinds of pills and marijuana strain I just got my pills delivered 🔥



  28. Dr. Evil on May 8, 2022 at 9:33 pm

    They all use HIDs cuz it’s so damn cold.



  29. AG on May 8, 2022 at 9:35 pm

    Weed is suppose to mess you up a little bit, so you can love yourself again not greed you up and put dollar signs in eyes so you can hate your self.



  30. Lee Cortez on May 8, 2022 at 9:36 pm

    Respect to Justin Trudeau for making it happen. Alcohol is far more dangerous than cannabis will ever be.



  31. Zam1Fear on May 8, 2022 at 9:37 pm

    Legalization will make much of the black market obsolete. Majority of provinces will allow you to cultivate whatever strain you want, and a harvest can give you 100g to 1kg+ depending on many factors. People won’t want to buy something where they don’t know where it comes from and what the exact strain is if they have the possibility to buy something off the shelf at 6-7 a gram, clean, cured, professionally grown, properly scaled and commercially packaged. BILL 157 includes all applicable laws pertaining to Cannabis in Quebec. It doesn’t stipulate anywhere a limitation of potency to be sold. Only thing is you will not be able to purchase in bulk and get good discounts, unless I’m mistaken. There will be no real use for dealers anymore unless it’s a matter of loyalty and or buying in bulk, in which case, they will have to lower prices regardless. SQSC will likely make a delivery service as well, like the SAQ. I hope that’s not the case for friends who rely on that income, but it’s not looking good…



  32. Seppuku_HD on May 8, 2022 at 9:37 pm

    if you think black market will go away you’re wrong! The price of legal pot is just WAY to expensive and to be quite honest, its garbage! Unless you spend 20$+ on a single gram.. just ridiculous…



  33. Fine Strain Connaisseur on May 8, 2022 at 9:38 pm

    The government of Quebec helped the black market, by banning home grow, and constant SQDC shortages, a follow-up would be nice.



  34. Ray c on May 8, 2022 at 9:42 pm

    Canopy growth is wicked corrupt it violated a bunch of laws in mass with strawman purchases and uses the cops to arrest the competition



  35. Benjamin Chin on May 8, 2022 at 9:43 pm

    Aurora Cannabis is better



  36. Northern John on May 8, 2022 at 9:45 pm

    Get your shit together vice



  37. Hippity Hoppity on May 8, 2022 at 9:46 pm

    2 years later, weed is legal in Canada and there is a huge shortage! Stop smoking up all the weed, Canadians!



  38. sapientia_potentia_ est on May 8, 2022 at 9:47 pm

    This is why its 3 years later and this is just as relevant as ever



  39. joseph smith on May 8, 2022 at 9:47 pm

    Having a crimanal record shuts out 90% of the ppl that really no the bizz sooo dumb



  40. noise on May 8, 2022 at 9:47 pm

    Cops watching this:👁👄👁



  41. Agremen on May 8, 2022 at 9:49 pm

    this is a fucking joke!



  42. joseph smith on May 8, 2022 at 9:50 pm

    My state is 100 recreational w a couple dispencery s open w coffe shops soon to open but 90% of the day to day buying is done by delivering to ur home they are catching on quick here a cpl of places are delivering but the price and amounts are exspensive and going to stand in line etc etc it wont really get more of the market until they open it up more



  43. Hover Crip on May 8, 2022 at 9:52 pm

    I just got rid of 600k in stocks as I see a big crash coming. All I kept was canopy



  44. Miguel on May 8, 2022 at 9:54 pm

    Black Market will always win bro. The system will always fall.



  45. sapientia_potentia_ est on May 8, 2022 at 9:54 pm

    I think it’s a brilliant idea but it’s just that. It will take 50 years at best to dull out the black market and by then it will circle back around because of taxes, war and so many other factors being too high/ prominent….if not sooner. It’s the nature of the beast. Something natural should not have a price. The only cure is to flood the market with free marijuana and that would never happen. Even though the products are worth more than the raw plant any day.



  46. Lil Crypto on May 8, 2022 at 9:55 pm

    Roi Hennok’s brother lmao



  47. Daniel Detweiler on May 8, 2022 at 9:57 pm

    don’t let the light prison setences n coulourful lax attitudes fool you… they be killing muthaphukas up here LoL



  48. Daniel Sewell on May 8, 2022 at 9:57 pm

    It’s hilarious bc present day, Quebec has one of the strongest black markets next to Toronto. Quebec itself has incredibly hardcore laws on extracts and distillates. Canopy has a ton of business people with zero weed growing experience it’s a shame.

    And you got sham pollen chuckers LPs ripping Ethos genetics and a ton of other high end breeders.

    Lel



  49. differentbutsimilar on May 8, 2022 at 9:58 pm

    I like how he had to ask why they couldn’t reveal the address. These guys were super-nice about it. I woulda just been like "Cuz we don’t wanna get fuckin ROBBED?"



  50. Oreoluwa Adeyemi on May 8, 2022 at 9:59 pm

    Go shop with @cracklady on telegram he is the best he has been helping me with kush for about three months,