Dealers. I cringe every time I see that word used. It just has a bad vibe surrounding the word, like it automatically denotes a negative aura, a shady atmosphere. I just don't like it. So what makes a person a dealer and are dealers a good or bad thing?
To me 'dealer' just means someone who deals in drugs. Nothing bad with that (in my book). Like mcpurp said, some people deal in diamonds, some cars, some insurance (gag, lol dst)... it's just a term used to describe an occupation someone has. Now like any word out there it can be used by anyone for anything... which makes it hard to find a common definition. To me a 'dealer' is someone who takes seriously their occupation of supplying a product to a certain market. Whatever that is. People who don't take it seriously and just mess around may call themselves dealers, but to me they are just people hooking up their friends. Not dealers.
So is dealer good or bad. Neither. However there are good and bad dealers for sure. What makes one a good one is someone who has consistant prices, supply, and quality. Even if the prices are high, as long as they are consistant... it's called a free market. If the prices were too high, he would go out of business. If he's not going out of business, he's just taking advantage of the market. Not this is a big distinction... he's not taking advantage of people.... but the market. There's a difference.
If a coke dealer has a coked up feind at their house and a not coked up feind at their house... and they sell the coke to the one high for twice the price because he know's he wants it... and can take advantage of his high state, then that's taking advantage of people. But if he sells each a gram for $100... yeah that's a crazy price... but the customers have the option of taking their business somewhere else. Yes... the other dealers may be more shady, but you get what you pay for sometimes. It's all just business in my mind. Just happens that the product they deal in is illegal. You can't say that alcohol and fast cars don't kill people. They do. Doesn't mean the car salesman is a killer.
I admit I simplified concepts and made some blanket statements, so don't bash me for supporting people selling crack and pcp. I wish they wouldn't. But as a business model they aren't necessarily doing anything wrong (at least to me).
And to mcpurp... I'm not sure what you are on about prices. I've been paying $20 a gram for more than 15 years now. That's just how much it costs here. Eighths are $50, sometimes $60, but the 60 is better than the 50. Some co-ops charge as much as $80 an eighth. Again... taking advantage of a market. There are or were over 1000 co-ops in the LA area. Price too high at one... go to another. Obviously the prices aren't too high, or they would go out of business or lower the prices.
And one more thing. I don't think anyone in the world can say that prices are going to go up, go down, or stay the same if pot is legalized. There are arguments on both sides... but the only way to find out is to legalize it. Then we can go from there. Can't stitch a hole in a blanket that hasn't even been made yet, feel me.