Quote:
Originally Posted by Shazam
Alcohol in Alberta is taxed at something like 110%. I think they could do the same with pot and get away with it.
If pot ever becomes fully legalized, the big tobacco companies will start selling it overnight. Cottage industries won't stand a chance. Oh sure, there'll be little "micro-growers" (maybe), but for the most part it'll be big players that own the vast majority of the market.
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I see your point, I'm just not sure I agree.
If the government legalized pot and sold it at market rate (lets say $35 for an eighth ounce), and then added 100% tax, bringing it to $70/eighth... where's the incentive for me to buy it legally? Why wouldn't everyone just continue to operate the way they do, growing, selling, and buying illegally, at half the 'legal' price?
The black market for marijuana is already completely developed and chugging right along, and I think it would continue to do so without becoming redundant due to legal weed that can compete along similar pricing structures.
I'm thinking a more likely scenario is a moderate 10-20% tax mark-up, which would probably work. At double the price, there's no reason for people to buy it legally.