The Cost of Drug Prohibition in Australia

[MrMcDizzle]

Interesting report concerning The History and Use Cannabis in Australia, Prohibition and the Illicit Market. LINK

 

It lists some figures for the average price of an ounce of cannabis over a number of years in Australia. (on page 11)

 

Year No. Smokers Survey Market Size Price/Oz Value ($m

1973 500,000 McNair 40 tonnes $30 $40m

1977 675,000 McNair 55 tonnes $30 drought

1979 750,000 Morgan 60 tonnes $50 drought

1982 975,000 Morgan 77 tonnes $200 $550m

1984 1,175,000 Morgan/NCADA 94 tonnes $300 $1020m

1988 1,500,000 Morgan/NCADA 120 tonnes $450 $1,900m

1991 1,625,000 NCADA 130 tonnes $450 $2,000m

1993 1,666,000 NCADA 135 tonnes $450 $2,200m

1995 1,850,000 NCADA 150 tonnes $450 $2,400m

1998 2,700,000 NCADA 210 tonnes $400 $3,200m

 

I'm interested to hear some comments on this, especially from those who participated in the Cannabis market first hand at those times. Particularly in the 70's, where the prices are so low. I can't comment, I was not even thought of at that time.

 

Cheers

Edited April 13, 2009 by MrMcDizzle

[freddie]

I'm interested to hear some comments on this, especially from those who participated in the Cannabis market first hand at those times. Particularly in the 70's, where the prices are so low. I can't comment, I was not even thought of at that time

Dunno how accurate my memory is, young feller, but I'll try.

I can't remember oz prices in the late 70's because as a teenager I was only buying small quantities. What I can remember is buying $30 bags which was pretty much a sandwich bag full of unmanicured bud (leaves and stem included and more often than not seeded), sticks ranging in price from $6-15 (also thai sticks mmmmm), and leaf used to get sold too. Its hard to know the weight but I reckon your standard $30 deal would be a 1/3rd oz? Hash was around too but was about $30 for a gram and a half? Mostly fresh black putty but occasionally some blond crumbly stuff. I didn't see oil 'till the early eighties and that was $30 for a cap. Come to think of it $30 was your standard price for a lot of cannabis. There was a mix of imported and locally produced cannabis available.

 

That all sounds cheap but my first adult wage was about $130 per week.

 

Better go and rest now. My brain hurts.

[lightning]

yes the prices were that low late 70s $30/oz clean bud Edited April 14, 2009 by lightning

[Ozzy420]

I dident start smokin weed until the 80's and i can remember getting an ounce for $120..

[DarkSpark]

I cant vouch much for any time over 5 years ago BUT.

 

i used too get ounces for 150 and 50s were nearly a half ff my guy, now oin the gold coast 50 is 3 grams :'(

[brick]

60's 70's an ounce cost $30 to $40 ($25 if you were lucky) considering my weekly wage was $60 clear it was very expensive compared to todays prices. An oz of hash black from India or Pakistan was $120. Thai sticks were between $12 and $15. Prices were always high in summer as supply fell off. No hydro in those days. Victorian prices.

[Thylacine]

I reckon theres not much difference Brick...

 

30bucks was half your pay as a young fella, I reckon 350-400 is more than half a young fellas pay these days[depends alot on what they do of course]

 

% wise though its still a fair chunk

 

I started working in the late 80s, shitkicker type work[deckhand/builders labourer] on between 150-200week and I couldnt buy a nice ounce for that, untrimmed bush was about 100 an oz but the nice manicured/hydro/skunk-ish type stuff was closer to 400 at times, 300-350 regular...

 

So I reckon its better now than the late 80's early 90's.....but so is pretty much everything else...I think the unemployment rate was 12-13% here then!

 

The last thing is the circles to mix with, the price can vary hugely just due to who you know. Like most people im guessing, you lose contacts as you get older rather than gain more[which would seem logical] In my own experience I have alot less contacts today than I did 15years ago, therefor less choice and even times I cant get any.

 

At the end of the day, I will never be content untill I can go and buy a quarter from the head shop next door to one of the many local bottleshops

 

cheers

[Sylvester]

I remember in the 80"s that Hash was plentiful, and as I remember the quality of the stone was better to. I still prefer the naturally grown stuff to the the hydro, but its less practical I guess.

 

I would like to see it at least decriminalised, i watched my mum suffer through Chemo, she had Cancer and she would not try any smoke because it was illegal.