Colorado's gray market under pressure

Colorado authorities are considering ways to stop the gray market. Accused of laxity by neighboring states, the authorities are expected to drastically reduce the number of feet allowed in the home.

Colorado now faces a semi-legal problem. Legal growers are reselling their personal weed on the black market. This gray market now accounts for nearly a third of all cannabis sales in Colorado.

Improving the system

Authorities are therefore focusing on the production quantities allowed to individuals. In Colorado, homegrown limits exceed all other states. Recreational users can have six feet and as much «homemade weed» as they want at home. The medical side is not left out, since patients can grow 99 plants with a doctor's authorization. In this general outpouring of weed, law enforcement struggles to differentiate between consumers and dealers. « We need to improve the system and correct the regulation,» says Andrew Freedman., the governor's coordinator on cannabis issues. Colorado is under pressure from neighboring states to tighten its borders. Pro-cannabis activists accuse authorities of encouraging the business side to raise more taxes. »They're doing their best to drive us all toward the taxed model,» says Jason Warf.

Time regulation

States that have now had a legal market for 2-3 years are reacting to the problems it creates. Colorado is learning from its mistakes and correcting as it goes along. After THC candies banned because of the number of accidents, the hunt is on for prescribers who are a little heavy-handed with their doses. From January 1, doctors will need to know how many feet their clients are holding. To prevent smokers from hanging around outside, a circular now authorizes them to vaporize cannabis in certain bars. In Washington State, the price of weed has been halved since it arrived in stores. Too bad for Treasury accountants, who had based taxes on the sale price.

Théo Caillart