These illegal outfits have exploited delays that have plagued the Ontario Cannabis Store (OCS) since legalization of recreational marijuana arrived on Oct. 17, offering a more convenient and affordable alternative.
One advocate points to Washington state, where less-regulated medical dispensaries are more popular than highly restricted recreational stores five years after legalization.
From texting a local dealer to dropping into a neighbourhood dispensary or ordering online, Canada’s black market for recreational marijuana has seen significant changes in recent years and, no doubt, will see more as the country hurtles toward a new world of legalization next summer.
Many medical marijuana patients in Canada are struggling to buy pot under current laws and are turning to the black market, a University of British Columbia study has found.