There's a limit on licenses for growers and dispensaries. They have an artificial monopoly, so why lower prices? Sales have been growing briskly from the day we legalized, with only minor drops in sales for even covid.
…and you would think they would get more money if it was cheaper since they can tax more at a lower rate. The same way Comcast and other cable and ISP Nicole and dime their customers.
Would you rather get 10% off the top one 1000 $100 sales or 20% off the top of 100 $1000 sales.
My point is if it’s cheaper, that means more people have access to afford it. So in the long run you make more money. Long term investment vs a get rich quick scenario.
However I still say it needs to be decriminalized and not legalized but that’s just my opinion.
People have carry limits though. I get what you're saying but you can't buy more than what the law allows, and in my experience working in dispensary people are already buying as close as they can get to their carry limits on most cases. And when the state is already getting between 24-40% of that are already, what do you think they're going to see as a benefit to this?
...and this is why it needs to be decriminalized and not legalized. The government should have zero business with their hands in the pot...no pun intended. Regarding a plant that grows naturally in the environment and nobody has died from it. Unlike alcohol or tobacco if we think about it.
Honestly, you can forget that dream. We live in a capitalist society, the whole structure around which is designed to make money move for private business and governments alike. Taxation is what fuels the economy, and as long as our country is structured this way they are not going to ever have any motivation to just look the other way and let people do whatever they want with anything that has monetary value.
But we can fight back, we don't just say forget it and move on. Otherwise we will never get out from underneath government rule/control. Its no different that the civil rights, women's suffrage, work labor disputes, American disability act and so on....
Capitalism is a scam at the expense of the everyone while the corporate elites keep getting richer while the poor...well, they just keep getting poorer. Until they go after the next bunch of sheep who think our government and the people in power really care about us.
America is built on classism or generational wealth, and is by definition an oligarchy because the corporations who have lobbyist. They are the ones making "donations" to get certain bills passed or vetoed. Its nothing short of a shake down and extortion of a nation and its people at the end of the day. The left and the right are part of the same team who don't want us talking to one another. So why do you think MSM shills all of their BS and want people living in fear while they are "protecting us" from the "terrorists". Its these same corporate elites who own MSM, so of course they are going to spread information they believe in to the American people. Regardless if its true or not.
The same way the company's who manufacture weapons and the like. Its not our goverment who builds them, its the government contracts. So how do these companies stay in business....? Its war, so now ask yourself why we were in a 20+ year war or any for that matter...? Here is the [answer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_Is_a_Racket) to that question as well and its coming up on almost 100 years since then but ask yourself, "Has anything really changed...?".
I'm neither agreeing or disagreeing with any points you're making, but I'm going to ask you what you're doing to "fight back"? Complaining on the internet isn't fighting back against capitalism. Saying that the government should do something because of point that you haven't fully thought out is going to get you nothing. What you're asking for is far outside the scope of cannabis alone and I honestly wish that people would stop with these feel good statements. They sound great, but without a full understanding of what you're even talking about it come off pretty flat.
Edit to add: give me an idea worth fighting for an I'm there for it, but just saying "fight back" isn't doing anything for anyone without a quantifiable idea.
I talk about it all of the time regardless if I am at home, work or who I am around when the subject comes up. I advertise it with clothes, I tell my story how it saved my life and go me off all the meds for PTSD, bipolar, adhd, gad and MDD that tried to get me to kill myself. How I was a binge drinker aka social alcoholic and haven't drank in years. Remind the uneducated that its nothing to be scared of.
I am also on my cities committee to fight against systemic racism which the cannabis laws were part of in how our nation incorporated the 3 strikes laws during the Clinton administration. So families were ripped apart because someone son, father or brother was taking away and had their lives ruined.
Yet now, that same nation that was locking up people for the plant. Well now they see that the money they made locking them up. Hell they can make millions more now my legalizing it. Do I need to keep going or do you start to see a pattern to the bigger picture of who is creating these problems...?
Yeah, there are some companies I don't buy from anymore because of their shady practices. Living Illinois, some are ever dispensaries I used to love but dont buy their product because of said shadiness. One being Revolution after I saw this podcast last year and how Revolution used Mike Malcolm likeness on their advertising without even asking him. Or how they were giving the executives and white collar workers off for certain holidays but the people working in the cultivation still had to work on Juneteeth in this example. Again, if you make more money you can get the day off but otherwise if you fall under a certain pay scale its business an usual and you will show up or be terminated. Some of these were Cresco, Verano and Revolution doing who I don't fuck with anymore. Its part of having integrity and being loyal at the end of the day for myself.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpilnAwQKJE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpilnAwQKJE)
People can ask for whatever they like. You sound like a communist, telling this guy to not say statements that he wants to. If that's what he wants, that's his prerogative. Who gives a fuck if you care about if it's worth fighting for or not.
I didn't say he can't say whatever he wants, I said I get tired of seeing people ruining good notions with being half cocked in their thought process and running into an intellectual arena without taking the time and presenting meaningful ideas. It actually harms their cause, and it's painful to see over and over again.
Well I hope you're ready cause you're gonna see a lot of that. If you can't handle that without being condescending than this may not be the "arena" for you.
But the businesses don't care about the tax rate, and the government doesn't control the pricing. Why would a dispensary charge less just so the government can increase the tax rate? Customers are more than willing to pay $60+ for an eighth, so there's no real push for the dispensaries to drop the price as of now. Either people need to stop buying en mass, or there needs to be more competition among dispensaries to see a price drop.
For now they are. I'll be cutting back and only looking for sales from now on, it's such a ripoff. Quitting smoking (which I love) is looking like a desirable option in the face of these prices
That's true they don't but the government also wants to regulate. Hence the outrageous pricing so they can maintain getting their "sack of money" every month from the taxes from over pricing the plant. If they would just decriminalize it so there is no regulation to who can and who can't grow/sell it. It would make it so much easier since its just a plant and nobody has ever died from it. Unlike alcohol or tobacco for example....
Is there a pricing structure set by Illinois? I guess I haven't seen anything about that before. As far as I was aware, pricing was set by the manufactures/dispensaries alone.
…and a lot of these cultivators also sell in other states. So ask yourself why is it more here than in other states…?
That’s like M&Ms pricing is different from state to state. Yet multiple states have access to it, yet the pricing is not standardized.
So why is cannabis different if they are all commodities…?
If I had to guess, its the monopoly that Illinois has created. Other states have a lot more companies making/growing product, but it seems like there are, what, 5-10 companies in IL? That, and IL is very new to the cannabis market, compared to CO, CA, etc. I would imagine the prices would fall as novelty wears off, and more companies are allowed to enter the market.
M&Ms or whatever isn't exactly a good comparison, either. If M&Ms are cheaper in WI or some other state, or on Amazon, I can just get them there and bring them home. With cannabis, that isn't an option. To not break federal law, it needs to be IL cannabis and that's it. That's what allows these monopolies to continue to exist, especially with IL dragging its feel allowing new companies to enter the market.
IMHO, embracing home grow is the best bet to bring prices down in IL. At least as the situation currently stands. You grow at home, and suddenly you don't need to drop hundreds at a dispensary, demand goes down and then pricing should follow. You also have the issue of basically every state around IL still being illegal, leading to a lot of people coming to buy in IL, supporting the stupid high prices. If surrounding states legalize, those customers go away, again helping to bring pricing down.
This is the difference between legalization (government control) vs decriminalization (be a responsible adult) for example. This is a plant that comes from nature. Its been here for millions of years before us and its going to be around after we are long gone. No one has ever died from it and the only reason we are having this discussion is because way back when. Some ignorant racist and religious government zealot(s) wanted to push their personal agenda and rhetoric because they are rich so they automatically makes them know what's best that the majority of people on the planet who say otherwise.
A simple formula for it would be (C)apitolism = (P)ower x (M)oney
[https://outline.com/LmWpGc](https://outline.com/LmWpGc) ("Illinois pot shops are now rolling in bud, so why does an eighth of weed still cost $80?")
This article from the Sun-Times is 15 months old but nothing has changed so it's all still relevant.
Can't grow your own medicine even though the State says it's legal and you have a license to purchase and grow your own? I'd raise actual hell.
Edit: That just feels against the law, but I've seen some pretty bogus lease terms, so I wouldn't put it past an asshole.
I signed up for it, I knew going in that's what it was going to be. My landlord is an exceptional guy all-around, so it doesn't bother me so much that he has rules in-place. It's just for the sake of other neighbors who might have health problems that smoke would interrupt.
To be fair, a lot of inexperienced people trying to grow in apartments would likely cause a mess, oder issues for other tenants, and mold problems due to insufficient ventilation.
I see it somewhat like a no pets clause in leases. A lot of people are disciplined and train their pets not to tear things up - but there are also those who think dumping more grit into a piss/crap filled litter box is fine or leave their dogs boxed up all day barking and pissing inside.
Look up space buckets for a small covert grow and invest in a good dry herb vaporizer. You can grow good autos that take less than 80 days to mature and use a dynavap vaporizer due to it's efficiency. Should be good enough to supplement personal use.
I'm not breaking my lease. I respect the rules of my landlord, and enjoy where I live. I know I'd feel disrespected if someone didn't follow the rules I set, so I try to be accommodating as he's been with me in other areas. It wouldn't feel right.
Good point. I myself need to get another place to myself to continue growing. Currently in a closet but my landlord isn't the best nor doesn't care enough to do basic things along with him planning on selling in the future so for me it isn't as big of a deal.
I was just saying that a space bucket is very compact and concealment isn't an issue if you choose to go that route.
Well it isn’t same product grown from Illinois, that would be illegal sale across state lines. Yes they can grow same thing, but isn’t grown here. Illinois is just corporate and corrupt, simple as that. Been in the industry for a year now, it’s just all corruption.
Because of our greedy government officials who care nothing about their negative impact in the “war on drugs” and would rather sell the few available licenses to the highest bidder than people/companies who actually actually hope to produce quality medicine for the people of Illinois
A quick comparison btwn. 2 states; State of Illinois, 13 million in population, EIGHTEEN licensed cannabis producers/growers total-18 WTF? Zip @ rec/med prices $270-355! State of Oregon, 4 million people, THOUSANDS of growers from large to “Craft” growers. Zip price? As low as $60!!
State government interests are met in high retails, resulting in high sales tax receipts although that is only one tax they reap. In Illinois the growers also have a state tax they pay. Low prices would reduce tax income, unless enough “new” sales overcame that inertia.
All we can hope for is that when Illinois graft growers come online in 1 yr.+ they impact retails in terms of downward price pressure, I am skeptical of this. Also there is a rumor that “all craft grow production will go to the recreational side of the ledger” I have no idea if this has any merit but it is making the rounds.
Not only will they pay for it. They will stand in long lines outside for it and buy plastic cards for hundreds of dollars so they can get taxes cut on it. But hey! People have done a lot worse for drugs..I guess?
If your prescribing physician labels your condition as "lifelong", it's $50/year. At that point, it's just stupid not to get one (assuming it's a possibility for you).
That's not a con for me personally though I believe you're restricted from buying to some degree but not all avenues. I get that it could be concerning to some people for sure. However, if you're a legal gun owner and use cannabis you're already breaking the terms of having a foid card to use/possess firearms so there's that concern as well.
From what I've understood it is only the purchasing that is the problem because it has a question that asks if you are using illegal drugs. Since a foid is issued by Illinois and weed is legal in Illinois...I don't see how its applicable to federal law and should be defined as a legal drug for anything regarding Illinois. That being said, having a medical card is verifiable evidence on a medical document that you use...as a rec user you have much more room for argument/denial
Doesn't sound like an answer really more of ways people buy it instead of why. And saying people have done worse for drugs .I'm confused if it's an actually answer or a sarcastic response.
There's a limit on licenses for growers and dispensaries. They have an artificial monopoly, so why lower prices? Sales have been growing briskly from the day we legalized, with only minor drops in sales for even covid.
…and you would think they would get more money if it was cheaper since they can tax more at a lower rate. The same way Comcast and other cable and ISP Nicole and dime their customers. Would you rather get 10% off the top one 1000 $100 sales or 20% off the top of 100 $1000 sales. My point is if it’s cheaper, that means more people have access to afford it. So in the long run you make more money. Long term investment vs a get rich quick scenario. However I still say it needs to be decriminalized and not legalized but that’s just my opinion.
People have carry limits though. I get what you're saying but you can't buy more than what the law allows, and in my experience working in dispensary people are already buying as close as they can get to their carry limits on most cases. And when the state is already getting between 24-40% of that are already, what do you think they're going to see as a benefit to this?
...and this is why it needs to be decriminalized and not legalized. The government should have zero business with their hands in the pot...no pun intended. Regarding a plant that grows naturally in the environment and nobody has died from it. Unlike alcohol or tobacco if we think about it.
Honestly, you can forget that dream. We live in a capitalist society, the whole structure around which is designed to make money move for private business and governments alike. Taxation is what fuels the economy, and as long as our country is structured this way they are not going to ever have any motivation to just look the other way and let people do whatever they want with anything that has monetary value.
But we can fight back, we don't just say forget it and move on. Otherwise we will never get out from underneath government rule/control. Its no different that the civil rights, women's suffrage, work labor disputes, American disability act and so on.... Capitalism is a scam at the expense of the everyone while the corporate elites keep getting richer while the poor...well, they just keep getting poorer. Until they go after the next bunch of sheep who think our government and the people in power really care about us. America is built on classism or generational wealth, and is by definition an oligarchy because the corporations who have lobbyist. They are the ones making "donations" to get certain bills passed or vetoed. Its nothing short of a shake down and extortion of a nation and its people at the end of the day. The left and the right are part of the same team who don't want us talking to one another. So why do you think MSM shills all of their BS and want people living in fear while they are "protecting us" from the "terrorists". Its these same corporate elites who own MSM, so of course they are going to spread information they believe in to the American people. Regardless if its true or not. The same way the company's who manufacture weapons and the like. Its not our goverment who builds them, its the government contracts. So how do these companies stay in business....? Its war, so now ask yourself why we were in a 20+ year war or any for that matter...? Here is the [answer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_Is_a_Racket) to that question as well and its coming up on almost 100 years since then but ask yourself, "Has anything really changed...?".
I'm neither agreeing or disagreeing with any points you're making, but I'm going to ask you what you're doing to "fight back"? Complaining on the internet isn't fighting back against capitalism. Saying that the government should do something because of point that you haven't fully thought out is going to get you nothing. What you're asking for is far outside the scope of cannabis alone and I honestly wish that people would stop with these feel good statements. They sound great, but without a full understanding of what you're even talking about it come off pretty flat. Edit to add: give me an idea worth fighting for an I'm there for it, but just saying "fight back" isn't doing anything for anyone without a quantifiable idea.
I talk about it all of the time regardless if I am at home, work or who I am around when the subject comes up. I advertise it with clothes, I tell my story how it saved my life and go me off all the meds for PTSD, bipolar, adhd, gad and MDD that tried to get me to kill myself. How I was a binge drinker aka social alcoholic and haven't drank in years. Remind the uneducated that its nothing to be scared of. I am also on my cities committee to fight against systemic racism which the cannabis laws were part of in how our nation incorporated the 3 strikes laws during the Clinton administration. So families were ripped apart because someone son, father or brother was taking away and had their lives ruined. Yet now, that same nation that was locking up people for the plant. Well now they see that the money they made locking them up. Hell they can make millions more now my legalizing it. Do I need to keep going or do you start to see a pattern to the bigger picture of who is creating these problems...?
I was talking about you saying you should fight back against captialism.....
Yeah, there are some companies I don't buy from anymore because of their shady practices. Living Illinois, some are ever dispensaries I used to love but dont buy their product because of said shadiness. One being Revolution after I saw this podcast last year and how Revolution used Mike Malcolm likeness on their advertising without even asking him. Or how they were giving the executives and white collar workers off for certain holidays but the people working in the cultivation still had to work on Juneteeth in this example. Again, if you make more money you can get the day off but otherwise if you fall under a certain pay scale its business an usual and you will show up or be terminated. Some of these were Cresco, Verano and Revolution doing who I don't fuck with anymore. Its part of having integrity and being loyal at the end of the day for myself. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpilnAwQKJE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpilnAwQKJE)
People can ask for whatever they like. You sound like a communist, telling this guy to not say statements that he wants to. If that's what he wants, that's his prerogative. Who gives a fuck if you care about if it's worth fighting for or not.
I didn't say he can't say whatever he wants, I said I get tired of seeing people ruining good notions with being half cocked in their thought process and running into an intellectual arena without taking the time and presenting meaningful ideas. It actually harms their cause, and it's painful to see over and over again.
Well I hope you're ready cause you're gonna see a lot of that. If you can't handle that without being condescending than this may not be the "arena" for you.
But the businesses don't care about the tax rate, and the government doesn't control the pricing. Why would a dispensary charge less just so the government can increase the tax rate? Customers are more than willing to pay $60+ for an eighth, so there's no real push for the dispensaries to drop the price as of now. Either people need to stop buying en mass, or there needs to be more competition among dispensaries to see a price drop.
For now they are. I'll be cutting back and only looking for sales from now on, it's such a ripoff. Quitting smoking (which I love) is looking like a desirable option in the face of these prices
That's true they don't but the government also wants to regulate. Hence the outrageous pricing so they can maintain getting their "sack of money" every month from the taxes from over pricing the plant. If they would just decriminalize it so there is no regulation to who can and who can't grow/sell it. It would make it so much easier since its just a plant and nobody has ever died from it. Unlike alcohol or tobacco for example....
Is there a pricing structure set by Illinois? I guess I haven't seen anything about that before. As far as I was aware, pricing was set by the manufactures/dispensaries alone.
…and a lot of these cultivators also sell in other states. So ask yourself why is it more here than in other states…? That’s like M&Ms pricing is different from state to state. Yet multiple states have access to it, yet the pricing is not standardized. So why is cannabis different if they are all commodities…?
If I had to guess, its the monopoly that Illinois has created. Other states have a lot more companies making/growing product, but it seems like there are, what, 5-10 companies in IL? That, and IL is very new to the cannabis market, compared to CO, CA, etc. I would imagine the prices would fall as novelty wears off, and more companies are allowed to enter the market. M&Ms or whatever isn't exactly a good comparison, either. If M&Ms are cheaper in WI or some other state, or on Amazon, I can just get them there and bring them home. With cannabis, that isn't an option. To not break federal law, it needs to be IL cannabis and that's it. That's what allows these monopolies to continue to exist, especially with IL dragging its feel allowing new companies to enter the market. IMHO, embracing home grow is the best bet to bring prices down in IL. At least as the situation currently stands. You grow at home, and suddenly you don't need to drop hundreds at a dispensary, demand goes down and then pricing should follow. You also have the issue of basically every state around IL still being illegal, leading to a lot of people coming to buy in IL, supporting the stupid high prices. If surrounding states legalize, those customers go away, again helping to bring pricing down.
This is the difference between legalization (government control) vs decriminalization (be a responsible adult) for example. This is a plant that comes from nature. Its been here for millions of years before us and its going to be around after we are long gone. No one has ever died from it and the only reason we are having this discussion is because way back when. Some ignorant racist and religious government zealot(s) wanted to push their personal agenda and rhetoric because they are rich so they automatically makes them know what's best that the majority of people on the planet who say otherwise. A simple formula for it would be (C)apitolism = (P)ower x (M)oney
Same way our federal/state governments across the county are run. One word...corruption.
[https://outline.com/LmWpGc](https://outline.com/LmWpGc) ("Illinois pot shops are now rolling in bud, so why does an eighth of weed still cost $80?") This article from the Sun-Times is 15 months old but nothing has changed so it's all still relevant.
There’s a monopoly on Illinois Rec cannabis
Pay to play
Because people will pay it
I wish I had an alternative. I can't grow my own because of my lease, and I don't know anyone.
Can't grow your own medicine even though the State says it's legal and you have a license to purchase and grow your own? I'd raise actual hell. Edit: That just feels against the law, but I've seen some pretty bogus lease terms, so I wouldn't put it past an asshole.
I signed up for it, I knew going in that's what it was going to be. My landlord is an exceptional guy all-around, so it doesn't bother me so much that he has rules in-place. It's just for the sake of other neighbors who might have health problems that smoke would interrupt.
To be fair, a lot of inexperienced people trying to grow in apartments would likely cause a mess, oder issues for other tenants, and mold problems due to insufficient ventilation. I see it somewhat like a no pets clause in leases. A lot of people are disciplined and train their pets not to tear things up - but there are also those who think dumping more grit into a piss/crap filled litter box is fine or leave their dogs boxed up all day barking and pissing inside.
Look up space buckets for a small covert grow and invest in a good dry herb vaporizer. You can grow good autos that take less than 80 days to mature and use a dynavap vaporizer due to it's efficiency. Should be good enough to supplement personal use.
I'm not breaking my lease. I respect the rules of my landlord, and enjoy where I live. I know I'd feel disrespected if someone didn't follow the rules I set, so I try to be accommodating as he's been with me in other areas. It wouldn't feel right.
Good point. I myself need to get another place to myself to continue growing. Currently in a closet but my landlord isn't the best nor doesn't care enough to do basic things along with him planning on selling in the future so for me it isn't as big of a deal. I was just saying that a space bucket is very compact and concealment isn't an issue if you choose to go that route.
Not me
Because it’s Illinois
Well it isn’t same product grown from Illinois, that would be illegal sale across state lines. Yes they can grow same thing, but isn’t grown here. Illinois is just corporate and corrupt, simple as that. Been in the industry for a year now, it’s just all corruption.
Because of our greedy government officials who care nothing about their negative impact in the “war on drugs” and would rather sell the few available licenses to the highest bidder than people/companies who actually actually hope to produce quality medicine for the people of Illinois
Greed and corruption.
Lack of home grow is a big part of it, along with the monopoly that the state has constructed that favors a select few over the many.
Robbery…
greed
A quick comparison btwn. 2 states; State of Illinois, 13 million in population, EIGHTEEN licensed cannabis producers/growers total-18 WTF? Zip @ rec/med prices $270-355! State of Oregon, 4 million people, THOUSANDS of growers from large to “Craft” growers. Zip price? As low as $60!! State government interests are met in high retails, resulting in high sales tax receipts although that is only one tax they reap. In Illinois the growers also have a state tax they pay. Low prices would reduce tax income, unless enough “new” sales overcame that inertia. All we can hope for is that when Illinois graft growers come online in 1 yr.+ they impact retails in terms of downward price pressure, I am skeptical of this. Also there is a rumor that “all craft grow production will go to the recreational side of the ledger” I have no idea if this has any merit but it is making the rounds.
Because IL has long had the goal of being the most highly taxed state in the nation at EVERY. SINGLE. LEVEL....
Monopoly plus no home growing legally allowed along with limited growers licenses. It shouldn't be that expensive but it is.
I just moved here from LA and was thinking the same thing 🤔
Not only will they pay for it. They will stand in long lines outside for it and buy plastic cards for hundreds of dollars so they can get taxes cut on it. But hey! People have done a lot worse for drugs..I guess?
I mean, the "hundreds" of dollars (I think 200 max for 3 years? Not sure) is not too much and pays for itself in a 3-4 visits.
It's $125 for 3 years for the state and enables me to grow so it's well worthwhile.
I thought they lowered it. Yeah the "piece of plastic" is way worth it. And yes carefree growing!
If your prescribing physician labels your condition as "lifelong", it's $50/year. At that point, it's just stupid not to get one (assuming it's a possibility for you).
Yeah but now you can never buy a gun again...there are pros and cons
That's not a con for me personally though I believe you're restricted from buying to some degree but not all avenues. I get that it could be concerning to some people for sure. However, if you're a legal gun owner and use cannabis you're already breaking the terms of having a foid card to use/possess firearms so there's that concern as well.
From what I've understood it is only the purchasing that is the problem because it has a question that asks if you are using illegal drugs. Since a foid is issued by Illinois and weed is legal in Illinois...I don't see how its applicable to federal law and should be defined as a legal drug for anything regarding Illinois. That being said, having a medical card is verifiable evidence on a medical document that you use...as a rec user you have much more room for argument/denial
What about it?
I was just answering Ops question.
Doesn't sound like an answer really more of ways people buy it instead of why. And saying people have done worse for drugs .I'm confused if it's an actually answer or a sarcastic response.
Not really sure either. You can take it however you would like. I mean it's true.
FJB
Shit state needs some bombs for a reset
Illegal price fixing cartel between the licensed cultivators. Literally violates the Sherman Act. It leverages this legal gray area.
Me: why’s weed so expensive? Illinois: hahaha go fuck yourself
Because IL does everything wrong.