Awash in weed
May. 31st, 2008 07:24 amInteresting article in the Chronicle about measure B, which seeks to put tighter limits on pot cultivation in this county.
I hadn't realized that marijuana now represents 2/3 of the economy here. I was trying to explain to Bill that if pot is ever fully legalized, the price will collapse and the economy here will tank. Growing would immediately be taken over by big, efficient operations that local growers couldn't possibly compete with. Even without legalization the sheer number of growers coming up now will likely introduce stiff competition that would limit profits. This seems obvious, but nearly impossible to explain to someone lacking any background in economics.
The flip side, that the feds could roll in any day and confiscate growers' land, seems equally lost on the local population.
It's a bit of a gold rush at the moment, and the lesson I take from 1849 is that it's more lucrative to serve the miners than to be a miner yourself. Let other people assume the risk! It's created an excellent business environment, which explains our anomalously good sushi bar, among other things. I can only hope the money keeps rolling in, because stoned, mellow clients with lots of money and a bad case of the munchies can't hurt when it comes to catering!
It will be interesting to see how it all ends, because the current situation cannot be sustained forever.
I hadn't realized that marijuana now represents 2/3 of the economy here. I was trying to explain to Bill that if pot is ever fully legalized, the price will collapse and the economy here will tank. Growing would immediately be taken over by big, efficient operations that local growers couldn't possibly compete with. Even without legalization the sheer number of growers coming up now will likely introduce stiff competition that would limit profits. This seems obvious, but nearly impossible to explain to someone lacking any background in economics.
The flip side, that the feds could roll in any day and confiscate growers' land, seems equally lost on the local population.
It's a bit of a gold rush at the moment, and the lesson I take from 1849 is that it's more lucrative to serve the miners than to be a miner yourself. Let other people assume the risk! It's created an excellent business environment, which explains our anomalously good sushi bar, among other things. I can only hope the money keeps rolling in, because stoned, mellow clients with lots of money and a bad case of the munchies can't hurt when it comes to catering!
It will be interesting to see how it all ends, because the current situation cannot be sustained forever.
no subject
Date: 2008-06-01 06:27 am (UTC)If I walked through a supermarket and found a pack of your cigs with your face smiling out at me, I'd be compelled to buy it, just for the pix.
And who knows? If you get real popular, Philip Morris™ might just wanna buy you out for a cool million. Or is that Kool million?
Call me when you get around to placing that radio ad for Snousle Floozies™