In a study published today by Eaze, it was revealed that — despite living in the world’s largest legal cannabis marketplace — nearly one in five (18 percent) of California cannabis consumers have bought cannabis products on the illicit marketplace in the last three months.
The study compiled 1,750 online surveys from California, Colorado, and Eaze cannabis consumers; the surveys were conducted between July 6 and July 12.
Here are some of the study’s other key findings:
- 84% of individuals who have purchased on the illicit marketplace are “highly likely” to repeat that behavior
- 23% of those consumers say that a 5% decrease in California’s tax rate could drive them into the legal market
- Most consumers who buy products via the legal marketplace (84%) say they are “very satisfied”
- Consumers buying on the legal market are highly satisfied with product labeling (85%) and testing (75%)
- 90% of California cannabis consumers say they have a medical use for the plant
- Southern California consumers are more likely to buy from a unlicensed source than Northern California consumers (21% vs 16%, respectively)
It is no secret that the launch of California‘s adult-use cannabis market has been slower than predicted. Operators in the state suggest that this is due to a wide range of issues, including local licensing delays, burdensome taxes and regulations, jurisdictional bans on the industry, and a lack of lab testing standards.