Pubdate: Wed, 30 Mar 2016
Source: Arizona Republic (Phoenix, AZ)
Copyright: 2016 The Arizona Republic
Contact: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/sendaletter.html
Website: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/24
Author: Clay Thompson

STREET MARIJUANA IS LIKE THE ROTGUT VERSION OF WHISKEY

Today's question: What's the difference between "medical marijuana" 
and "street marijuana?" And how come medical marijuana costs $300 an 
ounce while "street" marijuana only costs $60 an ounce? There are 
several reasons for this.

For starters, it's kind of like the difference between really cheap 
rotgut whiskey and the finest Tennessee sipping whiskey.

Medical marijuana is usually grown using hydroponics or aeroponics in 
climate controlled conditions and raised with quality nutrients. And 
security can be expensive. Purveyors of street weed are not quite so fussy.

It is usually pretty low grade stuff with seeds and stems and maybe 
pesticides and who knows what.

In addition to production costs, the regulatory bills pile up quickly.

It is not cheap to get a permit to cultivate and sell medical-grade 
marijuana, and it can be difficult to find a facility where you can 
do business.

Also, you need to remember that marijuana still is considered to be a 
controlled substance under federal law, and it is a federal offense 
to grow or own it.

You may go to all the trouble and expense of getting into the medical 
marijuana business and never know for sure when the feds might stop 
turning a blind eye to the trade and shut you down.

Last, as is the case with so many businesses, I suppose there is some 
element of supply and demand involved.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom