Massachusetts police say they are seeing a thriving underground marijuana market, which is booming four months after the launch of legal pot sales — as dealers take advantage of the heightened demand and short supply — and compete with cheaper weed, while using the legalization laws as cover.
Police chiefs say their concern that legalizing pot would actually fuel the illicit market — leading to an explosion of illegal marijuana sales in Massachusetts — is coming true.
Both the cops and cannabis advocates say the combination of high prices and low supply in the few retail stores — often located far from their customers — is driving the newly energized weed consumer base to seek out the cheaper black market.