It’s common for dispensaries to sell an 1/8th for ~$15-25, at least in northern California. Just checked a couple local places and see many options for half ounces around $40.

I doubt many people care about anonymity here either. It’s all cash transactions, and you just get carded like buying booze - no real registration, except for like rewards points/loyalty programs lol

Plus, a new law just went into effect here that supposedly protects employees from being asked about/discriminated against for their cannabis use, granted there are exceptions for some construction jobs and jobs requiring federal clearances. (AB 2188, for anyone interested)

The legal market is saturated in California. I would guess most of the black market is exporting out of state where it can be sold for more. But I could definitely be wrong! I agree that it’s unlikely to disappear until it’s unprofitable.

Heavy metals like lead accumulate in the body, so exposure over time is a concern too.

In the US, childhood lead poisoning cases are opened by public health investigators when the kid’s blood lead level is reported over 3.5 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood. That’s not much - and if the kid’s eating contaminated food everyday for multiple sittings, I can see how it can accumulate over that threshold quickly.

For example, lead contaminated soil is considered a hazard if measured to have over 400 ppm lead. For things actually meant to be eaten, a fraction of that ppm is all it takes.