As far as prices go... People will pay what something is worth. If people will pay $55 an eighth, then that's how much it's worth. It is a significant risk to open a dispensary. That's deserving of making some money.
I just think out of that money they are making they should have some obligation to the community. Without that community they wouldn't be allowed to do what they do in the first place. The community lets them make all that money because they want sick people to be able to access medicine. If they cut off or limit that access to medicine then they are not service their primary function to the community and are completely illegitimate both morally and in SC county, legally.
I too am completely tired of the dispensaries; all of them. I cannot see the logic in letting these "businesses" have such control over something mother earth gives us ALL so freely. I too feel for those patients that cannot grow their own and have to pay outrageous prices and all the BS, hassles, etc associated with the dispensaries. They are making way too much money on aproduct that we, as growers, barely make out after all our expenses. I figure that a medium grow (10-12 lights) after all is said and done, makes about $2.25 an hour for our efforts. We are still taking big risks with the Feds, rip offs et. al. and by no means can make a real "go" of it in the current situation. Why do a few get the luxury of making all the money? If I have compassion and give some meds away for free (no yard work required) when I can barely make ends meet on my own, why cannot all the dispensaries do the same. I know of one owner who has so many material possessions now, after being granted a license to "rip everyone off, it is disgusting. He pays $hit and even offers to buy whatever on consignment! Imagine that! The little guy, who has tenderly and devotedly spent countless hours and many months bringing plants to harvest, and now he has to wait to be paid. The excuse is that if patients don't like it, he wants the option to return it to the grower, some 2-3 months later. Now it is $hit, all too dried out, degraded, far from fresh.
It is about "let's get this legalized so that everyone gets to play on the same field and one's product is the result of hard work, experience and pure commitment to producing the best one can. That's how "real business" operates. These dispensary owners are, IMHO, nothing but pimps; take advantage of a situation they are in and money is their only motivator. These guys wouldn't know $hit without their "sources" and would be better off at McDonald's training university.
Someone wrote that they believe some vendors purposefully supply infested clones. i believe this too because there are too many growers here and they (we) are competing harshly. Prices are unrealistic. I believe that those of us who can produce good, healthy and high quality bud will survive. We simply have to wait for the dust to settle.
Several years ago, i too bought clones from a dispensary and got spider mites real bad. It took me something like 6 months to finally get rid of them. Dan, thanks for your spraying regime. Too many growers think a simple spray will do the trick and do not follow up with thse daily doses. I had to learn it all the hard way being from a cold climate, i had never experienced spider mites. i am now an expert!
