One-third of cannabis users still buy from the black market despite the legalization of pot in Canada in 2018, according to the Department of Public Safety.

Smokers who buy from illegal sources argue they can obtain better weed, prices and service than what’s available in legal cannabis stores. They also have an indifference to dealing with organized crime, says a report by Blacklock’s Reporter.

“Very few participants see a connection between obtaining cannabis from illegal sources and organized crime,” said the report.

The report says Parliament’s pot legalization convinced users that “illegal suppliers should not be too worried.

“Price was an important — if not the most important driver — for getting cannabis products from illegal sources,” said the report. “This was especially the case for dry leaf and edibles. Quality was also an important factor.”

The findings were based on the responses of marijuana users in 11 focus groups across Canada who were interviewed by Quorus Consulting Group, a market research consulting company paid around $96,000 for the job.

“I am not a big fan of the dispensaries,” one participant said.

“The relationship I have with my dealer is a friendly one,” said another.

“Many also described how their dealer does a number of things to maximize loyalty and customer satisfaction such as doorstep delivery, anytime service, the opportunity to see or sample the product, small bonuses, extra product and no-hassle returns,” said the report.

A Department of Finance submission to a Commons committee in 2018 said the point of legalization was to develop a safe, legal, regulated market.

Source: torontosun.com