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MirthandMystery t1_j53769b wrote

And the worst appearances and skeezy vibe. Makes the city look more trashy and sets up ideal places for organized gangs to target. Already happened in a few places-just last week a vendor got shot from Hells Kitchen during a robbery and 2 shooters got away.

Next phase comes dealer guys arming themselves (already happening in a few shops) and being willing to pull on anyone shady looking.. This is a legit danger where we can quickly sink back to the 80’s style BS with bars on windows, rival sellers fighting for customers, in some places harder drugs, fentanyl and guns being sold too- a normal thing for those using pot sales as a front. For those under 30 this was common at bodegas and delis for ages and are still remnants in a few places. Don’t be naive it isn’t happening again.

Most readers never lived through those times and don’t understand how hard it is to things clean up once guys consider that as normal.

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Aggro_Will t1_j53g0c1 wrote

All the ones I've see have literally been just head shops that were already there or actually semi-upscale/legit/fashionable-looking places offering a veneer of legitimacy even if they're gray market.

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thesweetestchill_ t1_j54pbdd wrote

They’re also providing jobs to people. If they were as bad as this person claims nobody wouldn’t be going to them. There is an obvious demand. People are so silly

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Imhappy_hopeurhappy2 t1_j53y4vb wrote

Ah the slippery slope argument, in all its 20th century glory and ignorance. WhAt’S nExT, HeRoiN sUpErCenTErs?

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thesweetestchill_ t1_j54p7vn wrote

I’m sorry but you’re kinda talking out of your ass. Most of these shops are super sleek, clean and look no different than any “legal” dispensary. If they were as tacky and trashy as you claim than the hundreds and thousands of everyday people in the city wouldn’t be going to them for cannabis. 🤷🏼‍♀️

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deanwheelz t1_j55ubyv wrote

They look super sleek like empire cannabis club but sell you shady shit and over charge you on it. Fuck them.

Edit: hundred thousands of people are clueless as to what they are really purchasing. They have no idea how fucked up the marijuana industry is. Counterfeit is a huge problem.

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__theoneandonly t1_j56387t wrote

Yeah tell that to the 12 foot tall rick and morty heads with red eyes, or SpongeBob smoking a joint with chunky from rugrats graffitied on the side of every gray-market dispensary around me. Hardly what I’d call “clean” or “sleek.”

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MirthandMystery t1_j566qey wrote

They’re going because it’s novel. Young people will always fall for newness. This is going through the stage CBD did a few years ago.

People who know better are still getting good stuff from their Guy (who doesn’t have overhead costs). Stable prices, safe and top quality.. what these shops unregulated shops can’t offer. Many are about hawking adjacent smoking pipes, lighters, vapes and papers, and ultimately, are profit minded because they have high rent and taxes to pay.

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MirthandMystery t1_j568f91 wrote

The ones I’m talking about that are trashy and sketchy don’t care about quality and consistency. They’re the equivalent of fast food, and not those clean well run locations.. which quality wise is actually at least regulated and stable in its own way.

The crap ones may not last for this reason, be unable to make enough to stay open so that’s good for better sellers..

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[deleted] t1_j551f9o wrote

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MirthandMystery t1_j55xtan wrote

Then yours is a legit style one probably wanting a license, not the ratty shady ones, or tacky ones with all neon storefronts, head shop/pawn shop look selling crap quality.

There’s a wide mix of shops all over and each are different so of course their intent and professionalism will vary widely. Some more legit ones do just want to focus on supplying high quality pot, others branched out already and are using pot sales as a front. Always happens when profits can be made selling other things.

And as weed competition grows and buyer base tops out they’ll be market attrition which forces those who want to survive to seek income from other sources even if wasn’t their initial intent. It’s normal to branch out ‘product’ wise but that’s exactly why I laid out the original argument.. the eventual effect over long term isn’t always rosy. Older folks know what I’m talking about.

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