{"id":1845070,"date":"2023-02-13T10:35:15","date_gmt":"2023-02-13T15:35:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1845070"},"modified":"2023-02-13T10:45:24","modified_gmt":"2023-02-13T15:45:24","slug":"alex-halperin-illegal-weed-is-killing-licensed-california-bud-shops-ny-may-be-headed-for-similar-fate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/alex-halperin-illegal-weed-is-killing-licensed-california-bud-shops-ny-may-be-headed-for-similar-fate\/","title":{"rendered":"Alex Halperin: Illegal Weed Is Killing Licensed California Bud Shops\u2014NY May Be Headed For Similar Fate"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">32<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Falex-halperin-illegal-weed-is-killing-licensed-california-bud-shops-ny-may-be-headed-for-similar-fate%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1845070&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><br \/>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module alignleft\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>Not even Jerry Garcia, it seems, can make it in California\u2019s chaotic weed market.<\/p>\n<p>Garcia Hand Picked, a brand named after the legendary singer and guitarist, was recently launched <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfgate.com\/cannabis\/article\/jerry-garcia-cannabis-leaving-california-17741843.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">It would cease to sell cannabis products <\/a>in the Grateful Dead\u2019s home state. Hand Picked, owned by<a href=\"https:\/\/www.holisticindustries.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> Holistic Industries<\/a>California&#8217;s latest pro-pot venture,, has just been announced.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Companies, it seems, may be eager to reach the world\u2019s largest legal pot market. It&#8217;s difficult to make a profit in California due to high taxes, complicated regulations and the booming illegal marijuana trade. And cannabis firms in New York\u2019s new legalized marketplace are already facing similar concerns.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.notion.so\/7930a3f7cb3442a8bd6b0b9f76156fc1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Wana Brands\u2019 gummies edibles<\/a> There are more than a dozen available, but California was the last to get them. It\u2019s the only market they\u2019ve abandoned. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.notion.so\/ea36854b4be04e728b33fd47b78a905e\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Curaleaf, one of the country\u2019s largest pot concerns<\/a>California, a few weeks back. The legal industry \u201csimply cannot compete with the illicit market that is paying no taxes,\u201d Nancy Whiteman, Wana CEO, stated.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/garcias-hand-picked-01.jpeg\"><button class=\"button button--modal-trigger\" aria-label=\"Open the image in a modal.\" data-modal-image=\"25708425\"><\/p>\n<p><\/button><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-modal-image=\"25708425\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/garcias-hand-picked-01.jpeg\" alt=\"Garcia Hand Picked, the legal weed-purveyor developed by the family of late Grateful Dead legend Jerry Garcia.\" class=\"wp-image-25708425\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/garcias-hand-picked-01.jpeg?quality=75&#038;strip=all 2000w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/garcias-hand-picked-01-2.jpeg, 300&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 240w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/garcias-hand-picked-01-3.jpeg, 960&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 768w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/garcias-hand-picked-01-4.jpeg, 1024&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 819w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/garcias-hand-picked-01-5.jpeg, 1536&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 1229w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/garcias-hand-picked-01-6.jpeg, 2048&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 1638w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/garcias-hand-picked-01-7.jpeg, 709&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 567w, 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https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/garcias-hand-picked-01-14.jpeg, 316&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 253w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/garcias-hand-picked-01-15.jpeg, 305&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 244w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/garcias-hand-picked-01-16.jpeg, 491&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 393w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/garcias-hand-picked-01-17.jpeg, 282&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 226w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/garcias-hand-picked-01-18.jpeg, 260&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 208w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/garcias-hand-picked-01-19.jpeg, 240&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 192w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/garcias-hand-picked-01-20.jpeg, 227&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 182w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/garcias-hand-picked-01-21.jpeg, 213&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 170w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/garcias-hand-picked-01-22.jpeg, 209&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 167w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/garcias-hand-picked-01-23.jpeg, 375&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 300w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/garcias-hand-picked-01-24.jpeg, 188&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 150w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/garcias-hand-picked-01-25.jpeg, 174&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 139w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/garcias-hand-picked-01-26.jpeg, 164&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 131w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/garcias-hand-picked-01-27.jpeg, 156&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 125w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/garcias-hand-picked-01-28.jpeg, 130&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 104w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/garcias-hand-picked-01-29.jpeg, 206&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 165w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/garcias-hand-picked-01-30.jpeg, 107&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 86w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/garcias-hand-picked-01-31.jpeg, 93&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 74w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/garcias-hand-picked-01-32.jpeg, 71&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 57w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/garcias-hand-picked-01-33.jpeg, 62&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 50w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/garcias-hand-picked-01-34.jpeg, 56&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 45w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/garcias-hand-picked-01-35.jpeg, 200&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 160w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/garcias-hand-picked-01-36.jpeg, 289&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 231w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/garcias-hand-picked-01-37.jpeg, 403&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 322w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/garcias-hand-picked-01-38.jpeg, 58&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 46w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/garcias-hand-picked-01-39.jpeg, 50&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 40w\"   style=\"display:none\"><\/a><figcaption>Garcia Hand Picked was recently forced out of California by high taxes and increased competition from illegal sellers.<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">@kaychristineeg\/ garciahandpicke<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/jerry-garcoa-04.jpg\"><button class=\"button button--modal-trigger\" aria-label=\"Open the image in a modal.\" data-modal-image=\"25723946\"><\/p>\n<p><\/button><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-modal-image=\"25723946\" width=\"692\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/jerry-garcoa-04.jpg\" alt=\"A picture of Jerry Garcia.\" class=\"wp-image-25723946\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/jerry-garcoa-04.jpg?quality=75&#038;strip=all 2000w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/jerry-garcoa-04-2-scaled.jpg, 300&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 203w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/jerry-garcoa-04-3-scaled.jpg, 1136&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 768w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/jerry-garcoa-04-4-scaled.jpg, 1024&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 692w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/jerry-garcoa-04-5-scaled.jpg, 1536&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 1038w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/jerry-garcoa-04-6-scaled.jpg, 2048&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 1384w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/jerry-garcoa-04-7-scaled.jpg, 709&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 479w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/jerry-garcoa-04-8-scaled.jpg, 250&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 169w, https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/jerry-garcoa-04-9-scaled.jpg, 633&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 428w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/jerry-garcoa-04.jpg?resize=398, 589&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 398w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/jerry-garcoa-04.jpg?resize=335, 496&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 335w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/jerry-garcoa-04.jpg?resize=61, 90&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 61w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/jerry-garcoa-04.jpg?resize=435, 644&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 435w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/jerry-garcoa-04.jpg?resize=214, 316&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 214w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/jerry-garcoa-04.jpg?resize=206, 305&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 206w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/jerry-garcoa-04.jpg?resize=332, 491&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 332w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/jerry-garcoa-04.jpg?resize=191, 282&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 191w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/jerry-garcoa-04.jpg?resize=176, 260&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 176w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/jerry-garcoa-04.jpg?resize=162, 240&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 162w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/jerry-garcoa-04.jpg?resize=153, 227&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 153w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/jerry-garcoa-04.jpg?resize=144, 213&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 144w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/jerry-garcoa-04.jpg?resize=141, 209&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 141w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/jerry-garcoa-04.jpg?resize=300, 444&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 300w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/jerry-garcoa-04.jpg?resize=126, 187&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 126w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/jerry-garcoa-04.jpg?resize=118, 174&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 118w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/jerry-garcoa-04.jpg?resize=111, 164&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 111w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/jerry-garcoa-04.jpg?resize=105, 156&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 105w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/jerry-garcoa-04.jpg?resize=88, 130&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 88w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/jerry-garcoa-04.jpg?resize=139, 206&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 139w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/jerry-garcoa-04.jpg?resize=72, 107&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 72w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/jerry-garcoa-04.jpg?resize=63, 93&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 63w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/jerry-garcoa-04.jpg?resize=48, 71&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 48w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/jerry-garcoa-04.jpg?resize=42, 62&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 42w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/jerry-garcoa-04.jpg?resize=38, 56&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 38w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/jerry-garcoa-04.jpg?resize=135, 200&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 135w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/jerry-garcoa-04.jpg?resize=231, 342&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 231w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/jerry-garcoa-04.jpg?resize=322, 476&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 322w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/jerry-garcoa-04.jpg?resize=39, 58&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 39w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/jerry-garcoa-04.jpg?resize=150, 222&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 150w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/jerry-garcoa-04.jpg?resize=34, 50&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 34w\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Garcia Hand Picked was the legal weed distributor created by Jerry Garcia, the late Grateful Dead legend (pictured).<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">Corbis\/VCG via Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Los Angeles has a high tax rate of 30 percent on legal marijuana. Buyers often source their cannabis from illegal shops or delivery services that offer similar products, rather than paying taxes. It can be difficult to distinguish legal cannabis from illegal cannabis, aside from the price.<\/p>\n<p>Further complicating matters, nearly six years after California\u2019s legal market opened, vast swaths of the state are still closed to dispensaries. State law gives cities and counties power to decide what kinds of pot businesses they\u2019ll permit. According to the state Department of Cannabis Control (DCC), 61% of local governments don\u2019t allow pot shops.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>In conservative-ish Orange County, for example, most of its 3 million residents don\u2019t have dispensaries in their city. The illegal market is becoming a de facto monopoly by shutting down legal businesses.\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-california-01.jpg\"><button class=\"button button--modal-trigger\" aria-label=\"Open the image in a modal.\" data-modal-image=\"25708443\"><\/p>\n<p><\/button><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-modal-image=\"25708443\" width=\"1024\" height=\"733\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-california-01.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"An estimated $5 billion in illegal weed is grown in California each year, sucking up much-needed water and supporting the violent gangs who run these agri-narco operations.\" class=\"wp-image-25708443\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-california-01.jpg?quality=75&#038;strip=all 2000w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-california-01.jpg?resize=300, 215&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 300w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-california-01.jpg?resize=768, 550&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 768w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-california-01.jpg?resize=1024, 733&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-california-01.jpg?resize=1536, 1099&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 1536w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-california-01.jpg?resize=991, 709&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 991w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-california-01.jpg?resize=349, 250&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 349w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-california-01.jpg?resize=885, 633&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 885w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-california-01.jpg?resize=823, 589&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 823w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-california-01.jpg?resize=693, 496&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 693w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-california-01.jpg?resize=126, 90&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 126w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-california-01.jpg?resize=576, 412&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 576w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-california-01.jpg?resize=442, 316&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 442w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-california-01.jpg?resize=426, 305&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 426w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-california-01.jpg?resize=440, 315&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 440w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-california-01.jpg?resize=394, 282&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 394w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-california-01.jpg?resize=363, 260&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 363w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-california-01.jpg?resize=335, 240&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 335w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-california-01.jpg?resize=317, 227&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 317w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-california-01.jpg?resize=298, 213&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 298w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-california-01.jpg?resize=292, 209&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 292w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-california-01.jpg?resize=261, 187&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 261w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-california-01.jpg?resize=243, 174&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 243w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-california-01.jpg?resize=229, 164&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 229w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-california-01.jpg?resize=218, 156&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 218w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-california-01.jpg?resize=182, 130&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 182w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-california-01.jpg?resize=180, 129&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 180w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-california-01.jpg?resize=150, 107&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 150w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-california-01.jpg?resize=130, 93&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 130w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-california-01.jpg?resize=99, 71&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 99w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-california-01.jpg?resize=87, 62&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 87w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-california-01.jpg?resize=78, 56&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 78w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-california-01.jpg?resize=200, 143&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 200w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-california-01.jpg?resize=231, 165&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 231w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-california-01.jpg?resize=322, 230&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 322w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-california-01.jpg?resize=81, 58&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 81w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-california-01.jpg?resize=50, 36&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 50w\" \/><\/a><figcaption>California annually produces an estimated $5 billion worth of illegal weed.<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">Los Angeles Times via Getty Imag<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cRegulations meant to protect public health are accomplishing the exact opposite as millions of consumers turn to the cheaper, but untested and unsafe illegal products,\u201d Wesley Hein, the president of the state, said this<a href=\"https:\/\/www.distributeca.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> Cannabis Distributors Association<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>California, New York and other states have spoken loudly about the support for small, minority-owned cannabis enterprises. But if large, well-capitalized companies can\u2019t make a market work, legal mom and pops (of all colors) have little chance either.<\/p>\n<p>In the past, illegal markets were a source of income for small-scale farmers who had small trees to grow. Today, large, unlicensed criminal organizations hide in plain view alongside licensed growers in California&#8217;s desert or other mostly rural areas. These farms are run by armed criminals and guzzle illegally. They also dump pollutants without any consequences.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-shops-nyc-04-1.jpg\"><button class=\"button button--modal-trigger\" aria-label=\"Open the image in a modal.\" data-modal-image=\"25708456\"><\/p>\n<p><\/button><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-modal-image=\"25708456\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-shops-nyc-04-1.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"Mobile pot trucks like this one in Lower Manhattan often accept credit cards, which give them an edge over legal rivals who are not connected to the formalized banking system.\" class=\"wp-image-25708456\" width=\"618\" height=\"411\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-shops-nyc-04-1.jpg?quality=75&#038;strip=all 2000w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-shops-nyc-04-1.jpg?resize=300, 200&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 300w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-shops-nyc-04-1.jpg?resize=768, 512&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 768w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-shops-nyc-04-1.jpg?resize=1024, 682&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-shops-nyc-04-1.jpg?resize=1536, 1024&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 1536w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-shops-nyc-04-1.jpg?resize=1064, 709&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 1064w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-shops-nyc-04-1.jpg?resize=375, 250&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 375w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-shops-nyc-04-1.jpg?resize=950, 633&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 950w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-shops-nyc-04-1.jpg?resize=878, 585&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 878w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-shops-nyc-04-1.jpg?resize=744, 496&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 744w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-shops-nyc-04-1.jpg?resize=135, 90&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 135w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-shops-nyc-04-1.jpg?resize=576, 384&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 576w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-shops-nyc-04-1.jpg?resize=474, 316&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 474w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-shops-nyc-04-1.jpg?resize=457, 305&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 457w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-shops-nyc-04-1.jpg?resize=440, 293&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 440w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-shops-nyc-04-1.jpg?resize=424, 282&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 424w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-shops-nyc-04-1.jpg?resize=389, 260&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 389w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-shops-nyc-04-1.jpg?resize=360, 240&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 360w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-shops-nyc-04-1.jpg?resize=340, 227&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 340w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-shops-nyc-04-1.jpg?resize=320, 213&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 320w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-shops-nyc-04-1.jpg?resize=314, 209&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 314w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-shops-nyc-04-1.jpg?resize=306, 204&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 306w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-shops-nyc-04-1.jpg?resize=280, 187&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 280w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-shops-nyc-04-1.jpg?resize=260, 174&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 260w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-shops-nyc-04-1.jpg?resize=246, 164&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 246w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-shops-nyc-04-1.jpg?resize=234, 156&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 234w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-shops-nyc-04-1.jpg?resize=195, 130&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 195w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-shops-nyc-04-1.jpg?resize=180, 120&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 180w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-shops-nyc-04-1.jpg?resize=171, 114&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 171w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-shops-nyc-04-1.jpg?resize=160, 107&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 160w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-shops-nyc-04-1.jpg?resize=144, 96&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 144w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-shops-nyc-04-1.jpg?resize=140, 93&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 140w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-shops-nyc-04-1.jpg?resize=107, 71&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 107w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-shops-nyc-04-1.jpg?resize=93, 62&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 93w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-shops-nyc-04-1.jpg?resize=84, 56&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 84w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-shops-nyc-04-1.jpg?resize=200, 133&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 200w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-shops-nyc-04-1.jpg?resize=231, 154&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 231w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-shops-nyc-04-1.jpg?resize=322, 215&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 322w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-shops-nyc-04-1.jpg?resize=87, 58&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 87w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-shops-nyc-04-1.jpg?resize=150, 100&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 150w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-shops-nyc-04-1.jpg?resize=50, 33&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 50w\" \/><\/a><figcaption>These mobile pot trucks in Lower Manhattan are often able to accept credit cards. This gives them an advantage over legal rivals that do not have access to the formalized banking system.<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">Pacific Press\/LightRocket via Ge<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>In 2021 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.economist.com\/united-states\/2022\/05\/14\/in-california-the-worlds-largest-legal-weed-market-is-going-up-in-smoke\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">California\u2019s legal market did more than $5B in sales.<\/a> All estimates suggest that the illegal market is much larger. DCC-led search warrants seized $77 million in illegal cannabis in 2021, perhaps one percent of the state\u2019s total illegal market. California and other legal states lack both the political will and the resources to go after illegal operators.\u00a0It would be counterproductive to legalize illegal activities by imposing harsh penalties on them.<\/p>\n<p>Similar enforcement issues have been faced in New York City, which allowed pot sales only in 2021. The city\u2019s first legal bud boutique, for instance, opened in late December \u2013 faced, from day one, with an<a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2023\/01\/18\/1400-illegal-pot-shops-now-open-in-nyc-already-wreaking-havoc\/\"> There are approximately 1,400 NYC shops. <\/a>Illegally selling bud<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/housing-works-cannabis-co-01.jpg\"><button class=\"button button--modal-trigger\" aria-label=\"Open the image in a modal.\" data-modal-image=\"25708470\"><\/p>\n<p><\/button><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-modal-image=\"25708470\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/housing-works-cannabis-co-01.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"New York City&#039;s first legal cannabis dispensary opened near Washington Square Park at the end of last year and has earmarked much of its revenue to support social-justice causes.\" class=\"wp-image-25708470\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/housing-works-cannabis-co-01.jpg?quality=75&#038;strip=all 2000w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/housing-works-cannabis-co-01.jpg?resize=300, 200&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 300w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/housing-works-cannabis-co-01.jpg?resize=768, 512&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 768w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/housing-works-cannabis-co-01.jpg?resize=1024, 682&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/housing-works-cannabis-co-01.jpg?resize=1536, 1024&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 1536w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/housing-works-cannabis-co-01.jpg?resize=1064, 709&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 1064w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/housing-works-cannabis-co-01.jpg?resize=375, 250&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 375w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/housing-works-cannabis-co-01.jpg?resize=950, 633&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 950w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/housing-works-cannabis-co-01.jpg?resize=878, 585&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 878w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/housing-works-cannabis-co-01.jpg?resize=744, 496&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 744w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/housing-works-cannabis-co-01.jpg?resize=135, 90&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 135w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/housing-works-cannabis-co-01.jpg?resize=576, 384&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 576w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/housing-works-cannabis-co-01.jpg?resize=474, 316&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 474w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/housing-works-cannabis-co-01.jpg?resize=457, 305&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 457w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/housing-works-cannabis-co-01.jpg?resize=440, 293&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 440w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/housing-works-cannabis-co-01.jpg?resize=424, 282&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 424w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/housing-works-cannabis-co-01.jpg?resize=389, 260&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 389w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/housing-works-cannabis-co-01.jpg?resize=360, 240&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 360w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/housing-works-cannabis-co-01.jpg?resize=340, 227&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 340w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/housing-works-cannabis-co-01.jpg?resize=320, 213&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 320w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/housing-works-cannabis-co-01.jpg?resize=314, 209&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 314w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/housing-works-cannabis-co-01.jpg?resize=306, 204&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 306w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/housing-works-cannabis-co-01.jpg?resize=280, 187&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 280w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/housing-works-cannabis-co-01.jpg?resize=260, 174&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 260w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/housing-works-cannabis-co-01.jpg?resize=246, 164&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 246w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/housing-works-cannabis-co-01.jpg?resize=234, 156&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 234w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/housing-works-cannabis-co-01.jpg?resize=195, 130&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 195w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/housing-works-cannabis-co-01.jpg?resize=180, 120&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 180w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/housing-works-cannabis-co-01.jpg?resize=171, 114&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 171w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/housing-works-cannabis-co-01.jpg?resize=160, 107&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 160w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/housing-works-cannabis-co-01.jpg?resize=144, 96&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 144w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/housing-works-cannabis-co-01.jpg?resize=140, 93&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 140w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/housing-works-cannabis-co-01.jpg?resize=107, 71&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 107w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/housing-works-cannabis-co-01.jpg?resize=93, 62&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 93w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/housing-works-cannabis-co-01.jpg?resize=84, 56&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 84w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/housing-works-cannabis-co-01.jpg?resize=200, 133&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 200w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/housing-works-cannabis-co-01.jpg?resize=231, 154&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 231w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/housing-works-cannabis-co-01.jpg?resize=322, 215&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 322w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/housing-works-cannabis-co-01.jpg?resize=87, 58&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 87w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/housing-works-cannabis-co-01.jpg?resize=150, 100&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 150w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/housing-works-cannabis-co-01.jpg?resize=50, 33&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 50w\" \/><\/a><figcaption>New York City\u2019s first legal cannabis dispensary opened near Washington Square Park at the end of last year.<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">Robert Miller<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/smokers-in-new-york-04.jpg\"><button class=\"button button--modal-trigger\" aria-label=\"Open the image in a modal.\" data-modal-image=\"25723979\"><\/p>\n<p><\/button><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-modal-image=\"25723979\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/smokers-in-new-york-04.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"A group of people pictured smoking weed in New York City.\" class=\"wp-image-25723979\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/smokers-in-new-york-04.jpg?quality=75&#038;strip=all 2000w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/smokers-in-new-york-04.jpg?resize=300, 200&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 300w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/smokers-in-new-york-04.jpg?resize=768, 512&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 768w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/smokers-in-new-york-04.jpg?resize=1024, 682&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/smokers-in-new-york-04.jpg?resize=1536, 1024&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 1536w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/smokers-in-new-york-04.jpg?resize=1064, 709&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 1064w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/smokers-in-new-york-04.jpg?resize=375, 250&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 375w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/smokers-in-new-york-04.jpg?resize=950, 633&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 950w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/smokers-in-new-york-04.jpg?resize=878, 585&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 878w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/smokers-in-new-york-04.jpg?resize=744, 496&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 744w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/smokers-in-new-york-04.jpg?resize=135, 90&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 135w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/smokers-in-new-york-04.jpg?resize=576, 384&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 576w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/smokers-in-new-york-04.jpg?resize=474, 316&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 474w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/smokers-in-new-york-04.jpg?resize=457, 305&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 457w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/smokers-in-new-york-04.jpg?resize=440, 293&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 440w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/smokers-in-new-york-04.jpg?resize=424, 282&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 424w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/smokers-in-new-york-04.jpg?resize=389, 260&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 389w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/smokers-in-new-york-04.jpg?resize=360, 240&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 360w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/smokers-in-new-york-04.jpg?resize=340, 227&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 340w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/smokers-in-new-york-04.jpg?resize=320, 213&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 320w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/smokers-in-new-york-04.jpg?resize=314, 209&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 314w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/smokers-in-new-york-04.jpg?resize=306, 204&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 306w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/smokers-in-new-york-04.jpg?resize=280, 187&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 280w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/smokers-in-new-york-04.jpg?resize=260, 174&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 260w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/smokers-in-new-york-04.jpg?resize=246, 164&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 246w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/smokers-in-new-york-04.jpg?resize=234, 156&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 234w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/smokers-in-new-york-04.jpg?resize=195, 130&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 195w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/smokers-in-new-york-04.jpg?resize=180, 120&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 180w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/smokers-in-new-york-04.jpg?resize=171, 114&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 171w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/smokers-in-new-york-04.jpg?resize=160, 107&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 160w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/smokers-in-new-york-04.jpg?resize=144, 96&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 144w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/smokers-in-new-york-04.jpg?resize=140, 93&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 140w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/smokers-in-new-york-04.jpg?resize=107, 71&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 107w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/smokers-in-new-york-04.jpg?resize=93, 62&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 93w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/smokers-in-new-york-04.jpg?resize=84, 56&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 84w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/smokers-in-new-york-04.jpg?resize=200, 133&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 200w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/smokers-in-new-york-04.jpg?resize=231, 154&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 231w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/smokers-in-new-york-04.jpg?resize=322, 215&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 322w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/smokers-in-new-york-04.jpg?resize=87, 58&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 87w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/smokers-in-new-york-04.jpg?resize=150, 100&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 150w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/smokers-in-new-york-04.jpg?resize=50, 33&#038;quality=75&#038;strip=all 50w\" \/><\/a><figcaption>A group of people are pictured smoking marijuana in New York City.<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">Robert Miller<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>These businesses, which include many bodegas and smokeshops, mostly sell unlicensed marijuana imported from California and other countries. \u201cThe illegal market is shipping in tractor-trailers of cannabis products,\u201d Whiteman is Wana CEO. \u201cThere\u2019s no enforcement, making New York just as challenging as a market like California.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Not only are you exempt from paying pot taxes but also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bizjournals.com\/newyork\/news\/2023\/02\/03\/cannabis-credit-cards.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Credit cards are also accepted in unregulated shops<\/a>. It may seem that this is merely a convenience to consumers. But, with cannabis still being licensed but not connected to the banking system and illegal shops accepting all forms payment, this gives them an edge.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Industry\u2019s hurdles, like access to mainstream banks, will only be resolved via federal cannabis reform. The House of Representatives has passed such a bill with bipartisan support. <a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/policy\/finance\/3782514-marijuana-advocates-stunned-after-mcconnell-opposition-dooms-banking-bill\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Senate Republicans block the legislation<\/a>.<strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-shops-nyc-01.jpg\"><button class=\"button button--modal-trigger\" aria-label=\"Open the image in a modal.\" data-modal-image=\"25708528\"><\/p>\n<p><\/button><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-modal-image=\"25708528\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-shops-nyc-01.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"One of the estimated 1,400 illegal pot shops operating in New York City; NY State has taken the unusual step of adding a \" potency \/><\/a><figcaption>One of approximately 1,400 illegal pot-shops in New York City.<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">AFP via Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-shops-nyc-05-1.jpg\"><button class=\"button button--modal-trigger\" aria-label=\"Open the image in a modal.\" data-modal-image=\"25723974\"><\/p>\n<p><\/button><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-modal-image=\"25723974\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/illegal-weed-shops-nyc-05-1.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"NY State has taken the unusual step of adding a \" potency \/><\/a><figcaption>NY State took the unusual step to add a \u201cpotency\u201d To legalize marijuana sales, tax<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">NurPhoto via Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>States have the power to stop illegal markets from suppressing their legal counterparts. Reduce pot taxes, which currently stand at 13% in New York State, would be the fastest way to support legal operations. But folks are counting on that tax revenue \u2013 for law enforcement, youth programs and the racial justice initiatives heavily baked into New York\u2019s push to decriminalize cannabis. You will always be left out if you reduce the tax pool.<\/p>\n<p>New York\u2019s legal weed market is in an uneasy early stage, clamoring for a foothold in an unfair arena where illegal competitors clearly have the upper hand. Overtaxed and in many ways over-regulated \u2013 for instance, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.syracuse.com\/marijuana\/2021\/05\/new-yorks-marijuana-tax-might-not-be-the-nations-highest-but-it-may-be-the-most-complex.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">New York is unique in that it charges distributors an extra potency tax<\/a> \u2013\u00a0 New York\u2019s pot market is already, well, going to pot as consumers flock to more convenient dealers and depots.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Envisioned as a way to compensate for racial injustices \u2014 40 percent of legal cannabis tax revenue is earmarked for communities impacted by pot busts \u2014 New York\u2019s nascent cannabis industry might very well wind up like gimmicky Garcia Hand-Picked. Because as long as unlicensed dealers sell their products for less, they\u2019ll thrive at the expense of both legal operators and the social causes they so loudly champion.<\/p>\n<p><em>Alex Halperin is the author of the newsletter <\/em><a href=\"http:\/\/weedweek.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>WeedWeek<\/em><\/a><em>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Not even Jerry Garcia, it seems, can make it in California\u2019s chaotic weed market. Garcia Hand Picked, a brand named after the legendary singer and guitarist, was recently launched It would cease to sell cannabis products in the Grateful Dead\u2019s home state. Hand Picked, owned by Holistic IndustriesCalifornia&#8217;s latest pro-pot venture,, has just been announced.\u00a0 &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1845073,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[547],"tags":[9266,18499,4045,9293,18500,5439,4207,4992,18498,18501,8056],"class_list":["post-1845070","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-bongino-report","tag-alex","tag-bud","tag-california","tag-fate","tag-halperin","tag-headed","tag-illegal","tag-killing","tag-licensed","tag-shops-ny","tag-weed"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1845070","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1845070"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1845070\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1845073"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1845070"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1845070"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1845070"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}