Originally Posted by BanningZ

^ Over taxation, quality, prices go up, accessibility is regulated.

You can buy a pack of cigarettes right? Now can you buy a fine cigar for the same price?
Currently you can buy some nice sticky green bud for 40-45 dollars a single. OR you can buy cheap disgusting shwag for well I dont even know how cheap it is, but ITS CHEAP. Once Government regulation comes into play the good stuff becomes harder to get and more expensive. Friends of mine argue that if it was legalized that anyone could grow it. Not true. Do you know a lot of people growing tobacco in their backyards or basements? I don't. Hard alcohol is illegal to distill unless under certain conditions and Homebrewing is about the closest that people have gotten with alcohol. Then again to circle back look at the price of a 6 pack of micro-brew versus a 6'er of PBR.

Although to play devils advocate many argue that the price would decrease because of legalization to nearly the cost to grow it, thus making it scarcer to find because few would find reason in privately growing and distributing it.

Profit is the end to all means in a capitalist society, be it insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies or the individual consumer.