[jdkuepper]

The same profit margins exist for tobacco and alcohol, especially cities like NYC, but there are relatively few bootleggers in both markets. I think the legal risk significantly offsets the increase in price from taxation. But then again, cannabis differs from tobacco and alcohol in many ways in that an underground market has become highly developed. It will indeed be interesting to see...

[codyb]

There's a lot of bootleggers for cigarettes in NYC. I've found many places, mainly in Brooklyn, that sell Virginia cigarettes. Big selections too!

Alcohol flows plentifully and relatively cheaply here though although I hear there are speak easies.

So I guess the moral is, if you tax it so much people are paying exorbitant amounts for it, you may end up creating a bootlegger's market, especially if you don't have to cross any national borders with the product.

[seanalltogether]

There's also the consumer component. How many people would buy unbranded non-shrinkwrapped cigarettes off the back of a truck?

[VintageCool]

As it turns out, plenty!

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/05/nyregion/05loosie.html?pag...