Dear Pot Lawyer,
I’ve read there is still a huge black market for weed in Oregon. What gives?
Yes, there is a large black market, has always been, and will be for a while here in Oregon. There is also a dark gray market, an off-white market, and many shades between. As a general concept, the further weed gets from the grower, the darker the market.
Right now, Oregon probably grows about four or five times the amount of cannabis that is consumed in state. (It’s not like we aren’t trying; there’s just too much pot.) A recent study estimates that just 30 percent of all pot transactions are state-approved. Much of the surplus weed goes from sea to shining sea, but especially to hubs like Illinois, Minnesota, New York, and Florida. Because Oregon weed is an excellent brand, demand is high nationwide.
Much of Oregon’s exported weed is grown in two southern counties: Jackson and Josephine. And much of that weed is straight-to-black market—e.g., a pound of local weed may sell for $1,000 here, and re-sell somewhere like Texas for $7,000. Other transactions may be grayer and comparatively benign—e.g., a pound of weed grown under the medical program may be sold to the cardholder’s friend, at friendly prices.
As with any commodity, the blacker the market gets, the higher the price for weed.