Although Massachusetts legalized marijuana more than seven years ago, the state’s Cannabis Control Commission has taken the position that transporting pot across the ocean risks running afoul of federal laws.
lol alright, I agree it's a first world problem of sorts but a household income of 140k isn't 'rich' even if comparably it's almost double the average; that just highlights the greater wage issues and economic turmoil.
The issue itself is over technicalities and should not be. Having to take a ferry to buy pot within the same state, which is where the legislation lies, is nonsensical, regardless of the affected people's income.
Solve the stupid problem, don't offer stupid solutions that could 'work', which I doubt the locals would even agree with. Spending money and using fuel where paperwork suffices sound like a southern solution..
Are the same locals perchance the reason why there are no local dispensaries or did they just not anticipate the lack of local access? This has the shape of NIMBYism backfiring but I don't really know.
Edit after RTFA: The market started off pinched and demand has whittled them down to the last legal supply because local imports are bottlenecked. Well hey, if it's that big of a problem for rich people then I guess the fed will get on this tomorrow at the latest.
I agree that the technicality of the law is stupid, but I also feel like if you want to live on a high-priced island, expect to go to the mainland for a lot of stuff, not just cannabis. It just doesn't bother me much compared to other legality issues. If somehow a new federal law was passed saying it was legal except for going across the ocean, I'd honestly be fine with that.
FWIW, cost of living is through the roof in Massachusetts, especially on Martha's Vineyard. $139,000 in MA doesn't get you as much as $75,000 in some other states.
Average income on the island may be 139k but the mainland isn't far off with an average household income of 134.5k.
If anything it makes me wonder about using that metric to measure the wealth of a somewhat isolated population. I'd think there may be a higher number of retirees or independently wealthy individuals which may bring this number down since they're not generating an income.
Anyways, I don't really have a point I'm just rambling lol