I'm not trying to paint the entire scene the same. But I think it's safe to say that 50% is a close to accurate number when describing the percentage of bunk operations out there. But that goes with most everything cannabis growing related. It's an industry worth billions. Lots of characters out there trying to get some of that cash.
To better answer I will guess it is because it is still inconvenient to get seeds in general.
There are 2 things going on, 1 is more growers esp new, needing seeds. And 2 is a marketing hype going on as the market expands. Many, MANY people, especially the young, are swayed by social media marketing. Its the main source of info to a lot of people.
As we all know and see, theres a huge branding push going on to create cannabis brands that go beyond traditional brands. They dont just want to sell seeds, the want to sell EVERYTHING under a single brand when possible. The Apple revolution in marketing (customize your electronics to YOU) has met the everybody getting into it craze...and you get people so hyped they cant wait for a new strain release for big $$$, or participate in auctions for $1000s for a "special" pack.
Larger market with a ton of new buyers and sellers will work itself out as soon as the govt and big businesses figure out how to capture all the profits. ☻