According to this, Cali has 874 licensed dispensaries vs. nearly 3K illegal stores and delivery operations

[ltecato]

The battle against the lucrative business of illegal marijuana dispensaries in California

Though recreational marijuana has been legal in California for over a year, local authorities continue to crack down on black market cannabis dispensaries, including in Los Angeles County.

abc7.com

"A study by BDS Analytics projects the legal market is on track to reach $3.1 billion in 2019 sales but, the illegal market will generate $8.7 billion."

Also: "Wald said the black market is thriving because only 20% of California cities allow cannabis dispensaries and the penalties are weak for operators."

And this: "Deputies detained three employees and a security guard at the shop called OG's and OZ's located on Whittier Boulevard. It's hard for customers to tell the shop doesn't have a license because they're handed fake receipts, the dispensary sells its own swag and has all different types of cannabis and edibles. Over $10,000 was collected during the bust."

I've never been to OG's and OZ's but I have gone to places in Whittier that are probably black market operations. I did not know these places were illegal at the time (duh!) but after I had been there once or twice I noticed things that made me think they might not have all their legal paperwork in order. For instance, they have no signs outside identifying the building as a dispensary. They look like some other kind of business like an auto-repair or smog-check shop. They post a fake address on WeedMaps and you have to call on a phone and talk to an employee to find out where they are really located. They also shut down a site without warning and pop up again in a building nearby with a different name.

 

[jcurtis912]

The battle against the lucrative business of illegal marijuana dispensaries in California

Though recreational marijuana has been legal in California for over a year, local authorities continue to crack down on black market cannabis dispensaries, including in Los Angeles County.

abc7.com

"A study by BDS Analytics projects the legal market is on track to reach $3.1 billion in 2019 sales but, the illegal market will generate $8.7 billion."

Also: "Wald said the black market is thriving because only 20% of California cities allow cannabis dispensaries and the penalties are weak for operators."

And this: "Deputies detained three employees and a security guard at the shop called OG's and OZ's located on Whittier Boulevard. It's hard for customers to tell the shop doesn't have a license because they're handed fake receipts, the dispensary sells its own swag and has all different types of cannabis and edibles. Over $10,000 was collected during the bust."

I've never been to OG's and OZ's but I have gone to places in Whittier that are probably black market operations. I did not know these places were illegal at the time (duh!) but after I had been there once or twice I noticed things that made me think they might not have all their legal paperwork in order. For instance, they have no signs outside identifying the building as a dispensary. They look like some other kind of business like an auto-repair or smog-check shop. They post a fake address on WeedMaps and you have to call on a phone and talk to an employee to find out where they are really located. They also shut down a site without warning and pop up again in a building nearby with a different name.

Catty-corner from my house to the corner of imperial and vermont, there is biker club house there. Real ratchet, ghetto as hell. They had an illegal dispensary there called scooters and hooters where they sold weed out the back of the club house. I bought weed from there one time, and my throat was burning on the first pull. I'd rather pay the more expensive price then to know Im smoking home depot pesticide.

Anyways the feds posted a notice on the door. Basically saying shut it down, we are watching you.

 

[ltecato]

Catty-corner from my house to the corner of imperial and vermont, there is biker club house there. Real ratchet, ghetto as hell. They had an illegal dispensary there called scooters and hooters where they sold weed out the back of the club house. I bought weed from there one time, and my throat was burning on the first pull. I'd rather pay the more expensive price then to know Im smoking home depot pesticide.

Anyways the feds posted a notice on the door. Basically saying shut it down, we are watching you.

Scooters and Hooters is a great name, though. Too bad the merch was shoddy. /s