What this article doesn’t say is that because of the high taxes states impose on legal cannabis, there is a thriving black market. Unintended consequences? What about the massive revenues they were expecting and probably already spent?

• Layoffs

The other important statistic not mentioned is the increase in pot-related DUIs in Colorado, for example.

In January 2021, CBS News reported:
"While alcohol is still the drug of choice, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation says 47% of drivers are testing positive for marijuana, followed by amphetamines and cocaine. The Colorado State Patrol says DUI arrests involving marijuana are up 48% in the last year."

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Hi there 'ol buddy - been a long while I know since I last communicated w/u, (also a long time since being on the 8N page), but just lett'n u know this now old (turn'n 79 in Nov) retired fire chief is still alive and well here in southeast Texas. Also still have most of my tractor collection left. Made it thru the pandemic w/o catch'n any of it and await'n permanent warm weather (it's been anywhere here from the mid to high 30s thru the low 80's so it's A/C one day and heat the next) so I can get out to the shop and start twist'n wrenches on several ongoing projects. Hope all's well w/u and ur's. Later brother, LS

Larry, where in SE Texas are you located? My wife and I will be in Victoria on Wednesday, the 22nd through Saturday the 25th visiting family, then driving to New Braunfels for Sunday through Tuesday, the 28th. e-mail is open

The pot business is crazy. A few years ago a lawyer friend was asked by his college student son to defend a frat brother. The Young man was caught red handed growing in an old barn he owned. No hope but to try for a plea bargin. He took the case kid went to jail no money just an old barn with new style LED grow gear. Lawyer friend told son he wanted cash and to sell the stuff on Ebay or wherever, he quickly got $8000 for it. Guess what, Lawyer set son up selling new gear on Ebay, only sold to states like AK, CA, Co, WA, OR, where it was legal to use. Soon outgrew the barn and moved to a large warehouse. Son hired people, graduated, paid off his loans then sold the business for a huge profit.

A friend's son had a licensed medical cannabis grow house. Legalization and the rush to open storefronts selling black market "stuff" caused him to shut it down.

Here in NY, there is preferential treatment for licensing. If you were arrested and served time for dealing, then you go to the top of the list. Also, the administrators are being very selective as to which cities are getting licensed first.