The blackmarket doesn't pay taxes so ANY amount of tax will hinter the Legal Cannabis Companies from competing with the BlackMarket.
Here's what you can speculate on:
- How many new users of Cannabis (Rec or Medical) are opting to buy their Cannabis from the back of a car in a dingy alley somewhere ?
- How many "legal-looking" blackmarket website will get shut down in the coming days / weeks / months etc where illegal dealers pretend to be on the up and up ?
Based on my own experience (everyone will have their own view). New Cannabis Users do not want to risk going to the BlackMarket and getting something that may be laced with other substances. They also do not want to funnel cash into the pockets of criminals.
Many of the "top-shelf" products come from quality controlled / legal producers. Yes, they will cost a bit more to purchase than lower quality / illegal products however it is of my humble opinion that the majority of consumers will still be willing to pay a bit more over illegal.
Tilray doesn't really "need" to compete with the BlackMarket. This may be an unrealistic goal / objective at this time. Law enforcement needs to step up and put more of the illegal dealers behind bars, or at least shut down the illegal grow operations.
JMHO