Honestly, the black market just doesn't die off the second something becomes legal, and I've seen this all around my city since weed laws changed. The main reason? Money. Like, if legal weed gets taxed way higher than the street stuff, people are just gonna keep buying from their usual guy.

I remember when they legalized weed in my state, everyone thought the black market would just disappear. But then the stores opened, and the prices exploded 'cause of all those taxes and government rules. Plus, not everyone wants to be ID'd and tracked either. A lot of older people I've talked to still use their old connections because it's cheaper and there's zero paperwork.

There's also the fact that legal stores can't always keep up with the demand, especially for the strong stuff people want. I read somewhere that in California and Washington, even with super high taxes (like over 35%), black market dealers still make bank. So unless the government keeps prices low and makes it easier for people to buy legally, the black market's just gonna keep thriving. That's just how people are, they look for the best deal.