Your medical cannabis journey simplified: find partnered dispensaries, explore pricing options, earn rewards, and get answers to FAQs, all in one spot.
June 28, 2021 08:00 am ETEstimated Read Time: 5 Minutes
Transitioning from the illicit cannabis market to the legal green side and cannabis industry is something more and more people are doing. As more states pass medical and recreational cannabis laws, the demand for cannabis increases. Sales continue to rise, and taxes are being collected consistently and continually from cannabis sales. Some of the people entering the legal cannabis industry are utterly new to the game, and it shows. It shows in the quality of medicine or cannabis they offer patients or customers, and it shows in the overall way that a dispensary is operated.
The Pros and Cons of Transitioning from the Illicit Market
There are positives and negatives for individuals looking to exit the illicit market and enter the legal cannabis industry. The positives are relatively obvious.
They would no longer face prison time, they could report the money they make and use it to buy legitimate life purchases such as homes and cars without altering or fabricating their source of finances, and with the success of cannabis markets, it looks like they would stand to still make really good money.
The negatives are situations such as having previous felony cannabis charges that could prevent them from working in the legal cannabis industry. They also have to go on the books. This means you have to apply for a business license, operate in compliance with local laws, and pay taxes.
The Cost Comes at a Higher Rate Than Just a Price Tag
For any of us who have grown up smoking, we have all known a dealer or two that was loaded with awesome toys. They have nice boats, canoes, kayaks, campers and RVs, ATVs, four-wheel-drive trucks, not to mention endless electronic gadgets ranging from video games and VR systems to eccentric high-priced smoking devices. All of this, of course, was purchased with money that was made tax-free. While this money may be free of tax, it does come with a price. The price is paid should they ever get caught. Everything gets seized and they’re suddenly facing jail time with loads of fines and court costs. This can take life from good to devastating in just a moment.
Apply For Your Medical Marijuana Card Today
Veriheal has satisfied hundreds of thousands of patients nationwide
Get approved or your money back
Appointments available on-demand
Customer support available 24/7
Transitioning From the Illicit Market to the Legal Green Scene
Despite what many think, being a drug dealer requires a lot of business savvy and creative thinking. An individual with this mentality that works in the illicit market of the cannabis sector has a chance to flip the script and enter the legal cannabis sector. For many decades the illegal market for cannabis was all there was. Today, that is not the case.
If somebody has the right mindset, there are many different ways they can transition from the illegal market into the legal green market for cannabis. To me, there are a few positions in the illicit market for cannabis; you either grow it, deal it, or transport it. One way or another, you work in sales in any of these departments. A person who grows for the illegal market can simply transition into the legal market by applying for a job on the books. They can also take their skill for growing to another level and open their own growing operation to supply cannabis to medical and recreational stores. They can even open up their own store. It’s all about the amount of money they have.
Logistics is another important side of cannabis. For those who are familiar with transporting cannabis for the illicit market, it’s not quite as easy as everyone thinks. There’s a lot of things to watch out for, police being only one of them. Someone looking to enter the legal cannabis sector with this skillset and passion may consider going into the logistics and transportation side of cannabis. Those that love the supply side of things and enjoy interacting with consumers and patients who may have held the role of “dealer” in the past, may find a job as a budtender to be quite fulfilling!
Any of these kinds of positions can lend you a job in the legal cannabis industry. With a little bit of money to back you, a person can apply for the proper license and make sure they are in compliance to work in many different facets of the legal cannabis industry—the legal cannabis industry employs positions of all sorts. Architects, engineers, electricians, plumbers, carpenters, accountants, lawyers and attorneys, and many other professions have found a growing platform of success in the legal cannabis industry. For those operating on the illegal market side of cannabis, these are some strange times. By operating in this market, you run the risk of facing heavy fines and incarceration while others who are doing the same thing under compliance with state regulations are allowed to operate freely and consistently.
There Should be Room for All the OGs, Not Just the Ones Who Didn’t Get Caught
Transitioning from the illicit market for cannabis into the lucrative green side of the legal cannabis industry is an attractive allure for many people. Some people are even trying to pave the path for those who helped the cannabis industry thrive before it was so openly and legally accepted.
The newly merging legal cannabis sector should not focus on offering opportunities for those who only behaved. It should also include the pioneers that paved the path for cannabis legalization today. The cannabis industry is an extremely large one that continues to grow. It has the potential to help individuals cultivate future generational wealth if they’re willing to lay down a strong foundation today. A strong foundation for financial success in the future of the cannabis industry only begins when an individual makes the switch to being legit.
Ashley Priest is a patient, mother, entrepreneur, and activist that fights to end prohibition globally for a better future for all. Ashley has a passion for sharing education pertaining to the goddess plant known as cannabis. She believes that a single seed can tip the scales and that together through education we can end the stigma that is preventing cannabis from flowering to its full potential globally.
Switching from illegal to legal sounds good on a paper and as a political talking point. But as more states legalize for medical and recreational use , the states need to set the legal framework that actual represents the people and the liberties associated with such.
Only a few states allow for homegrown, this is because greedy states only want to profit on something that has been so politically taboo.
We all see and know the harmful and sometimes fatal consequences of alcohol abuse. But that doesn’t stop state legislatures from prohibiting cocktails to go during and post pandemic. No they extended those loopholes.
Cigarettes and tobacco products only harm the body but the feds continue to tax and collect on a known killer.
Final food for thought- medical and recreational cannabis is expensive , med/Rec concentrates and edibles are expensive. As the demand and supply surge , local dealers still provide an affordable option or more so then the dispensary.
I don’t see any change coming -legalization to politicians is about revenue for their state.
Blunts: What are they exactly, and how do they affect your body? If you’re interested in smoking blunts—or already smoke them—this guide is for you. We’ll cover everything you need to know about this popular cannabis intake method, including how they’re made, how they differ from spliffs and joints, risks of use, and alternative intake…
Cannabis edibles are a preferred method of consuming cannabis by both retail consumers and medical cannabis patients alike. But just how long do they last? Let’s explore the shelf life of edibles, how to store them, and what to do if they go bad. What Are Edibles? Common Types of Edibles How Long Do Edibles…
Navigating the laws on traveling with medical marijuana (MMJ) is incredibly confusing with the current global stance on cannabis. In the U.S., some states are okay with you bringing your medicine with you as long as you can prove your patient status, while other states are staunchly against it altogether, leaving MMJ patients in a…
People have been smoking joints for a long time. The first rolling papers surfaced around the early 1500s in Alcoy, Spain. These weren’t like the rolling papers we know today though. To start, these papers were intended for tobacco, not cannabis. They were made of hemp along with other textiles and lacked an adhesive gum…
Cannabis seeds, aka beans, come in a lot of different varieties. On top of countless different strains to choose from, there are regular cannabis seeds, feminized cannabis seeds, auto-flowering cannabis seeds, and ruderalis cannabis seeds. Ruderalis cannabis seeds are the least common out of the group, generally only used by breeders. Regular cannabis seeds produce…
We use our own as well as third party cookies to improve your site experience and the services we make available. You can learn more about our use of cookies in our Privacy Policy.
Content Disclamer
The statements made regarding cannabis products on this website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Cannabis is not an FDA-approved substance and is still illegal under federal law. The information provided on this website is intended for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. It is not intended as medical advice and should not be considered as a substitute for advice from a healthcare professional. We strongly recommend that you consult with a physician or other qualified healthcare provider before using any cannabis products. The use of any information provided on this website is solely at your own risk.