Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: Pilot research has revealed two major markets for marijuana in New York City, which we label as designer and commercial. This dual market is clearly evident in most marijuana publications (High Times, Cannibible, etc.) and widespread perception of variations in quality among users. This presentation analyzes data collected about retail level purchases of marijuana. A hundred retail purchases were weighted and self-reports by purchasers provided important independent variables. Each purchase was weighed to the nearest hundredth of a gram; the price per gram was computed. Data analysis documents whether users get as many grams as they thought they had purchased and provides variation regarding weights and price/gram of various retail units.
Designer marijuana was typically purchased thru private dealers and delivery services by middle and upper income consumers, occasionally it was available in street markets. Designer marijuana was often sold in plastic “cubes,” and typically cost $50 for just under 2.5 gm, although lower priced designer units were also encountered Designer marijuana typically cost about $8-15 more per gram than comparably priced commercial marijuana. Street marijuana sellers often sold nickels and dimes—usually commercial—in public locations in uptown New York City (Harlem, Northern Manhattan, Bronx), but this was rarely present in lower Manhattan. In contrast, designer marijuana was never sold for $5—all nickels were commercial grade.