Market Sativation Theory

Prompted by “Colo. Retail Pot Sales Dip”: http://www.hightimes.com/read/colo-retail-pot-sales-dip

Consistently year after year, the U.S. National Drug Use & Health Survey concludes only about 8% of Americans use illicit drugs (with about 73% of that overwhelming minority using cannabis).

One prohibitionist touted that ceiling as evidence that prohibition works by protecting the other 92%. Too many prohibitionists view cannabis (actually all illicit drugs) as a virus with no end against humanity, so maintaining that ceiling as a basis for their expensive (tens of billions of U.S. taxpayer dollars annually) prohibition is legit to them (especially since that money usually ends up in their hands — many prohibitionists have serious financial incentive to unreasonably fight to maintain their illegitimate cash cow at the expense of another persecuted minority — unalienable right to liberty be illegally damned).

However, cannabis does not produce an automatic feel-good experience, and is (scientifically speaking) not a virus. Like people trying a roller coaster (scuba diving, etc.), there are people who try cannabis and never try it again, because they simply do not like the cannabis ride.

Combine that fact the with statistical comparison of cannabis use in The Netherlands (where cannabis is effectively legal from a consumer view, but its use has been comparable to that of the prohibition-sustaining U.S., according to a report found credible by prohibitionists — more on this in a future post) and we have my theory regarding that ceiling (drum roll)… ladies and gentlemen… I present to you… Market Sativation theory.

The evidence shows that market saturation has been achieved with respect to cannabis use. Those people enjoying the cannabis experience do so unhindered by the prohibition that has even failed to keep illicit drugs out of the prison system, while everyone else either never becomes interested in trying cannabis or ceases to interact with it (no consumer demand there). Going out on a limb, I assume most people do not scuba dive, or engage in other similar activities (noting I feel less sure about assuming most people do not ride roller coasters, but I would not be surprised if a minority exists here too). Market saturation is obviously real, and activities pertaining to cannabis (nonetheless any other illicit drug) obviously conform to market forces.

I bring this up now, because the increasing legality of access to this perception-altering plant provides an experimental opportunity to validate Market Sativation theory. While the prompting post only reports a dip in sales, and that dip alone is insufficient towards that validation, it was enough to get me up and writing again (after a week of awful Internet service prompting me to switch to the fantastic provider allowing me to publish this post and thankfully reconnect with you again).

About Spirit Wave

I am an honest freak (or reasonably responsibly balanced "misfit", if you prefer) of an artist working and resting to best carefully contribute towards helping society. Too many people abuse reasoning (e.g. 'partial truth = whole truth' scam), while I exercise reason to explore and express whole truth without any conflict-of-interest -- all within a sometimes offbeat style of psychedelic artistry.