[vineyardmike]

> Assuming we agree they aren't, why is that?

Cheap labor. Low threshold for consumers to pay a lot, potentially government subsidy.

Drugs have way higher testing requirements. In California cannabis has intense testing and labeling requirements. Fruit doesn’t seem to. Also taxes of course.

> would suspect all new and future consumer would go to a legal source for purchase.

Oh absolutely agree. I think there’s a cohort that would way the drugs but not be willing to engage in illegal activity.

Maintaining stores and supply chains and not a guy with a burner phone and a beat up Toyota driving to a parking lot probably raises costs too (compared to illegal drugs, not fruit obviously). Same at every step of supply chain. The costs are likely high for compliance etc.