Canada recently became the second country in the world to fully legalize the consumption and sale of recreational cannabis. Though a victory for personal freedom, Canada’s legalization is also a good example of how governments can bungle even the most basic task.
Part of the Liberal argument for legalization in 2015 was that legalization would “keep the profits out of the hands of criminals.” But this only works if the price of legal cannabis is comparable to the black market price. According to Statistics Canada, the government’s official statistical agency, the average price of black market cannabis in the country was around$6.83/gram. Though prices will vary depending on province and change as more producers enter the market, Canada’s finance minister estimated last year that legal cannabis would cost about $10/gram.
https://fee.org/articles/canada-s-marijuana-legalization-is-tainted-by-big-government-s-grasp-on-sales/
Part of the Liberal argument for legalization in 2015 was that legalization would “keep the profits out of the hands of criminals.” But this only works if the price of legal cannabis is comparable to the black market price. According to Statistics Canada, the government’s official statistical agency, the average price of black market cannabis in the country was around$6.83/gram. Though prices will vary depending on province and change as more producers enter the market, Canada’s finance minister estimated last year that legal cannabis would cost about $10/gram.
https://fee.org/articles/canada-s-marijuana-legalization-is-tainted-by-big-government-s-grasp-on-sales/