Middle-Class Drug Dealer Still Thriving Despite Legalization

By Kyle Harris

Shipping marijuana across state lines comes with highs and lows, says Dave, a pot dealer who has been in the trade long before Colorado voters legalized recreational marijuana. Dave, of course, is a pseudonym. Unlike many drug dealers who went legit, he continues to work the underground.

Dave describes himself as a middle-class drug dealer. In his best year, he made around $100,000. In his worst, he made $20,000. He lives cheap and saves well so the ups and downs don’t hit him too hard.

“When I made $100,000 that year, I was moving between 10 and 20 pounds a month. The next year, I made $20,000 moving one or two pounds a month.”

As a queer man, Dave has finds it difficult to find jobs that pay well, so he’s opted to work underground instead of risking homophobia in the aboveground economy. “As queer or gay or whatever, I do think it’s harder for me to get a job. There is a role that the underground economy plays that is partially connected to being queer.”

And working aboveground in the pot industry is not that lucrative unless you own a dispensary, something most boots-to-the-pavement dealers can’t afford. “Most dispensaries don’t pay people that well. A lot pay minimum wage, especially the corporate ones,” he says.

But shipping pounds of weed in exchange for boxes of cash is risky — not just legally. “I’ve lost over $30,000 over the years.” After a few close encounters with the law, he learned the hard way not to try and recoup losses.

“I get very emotional about it and it’s hard to talk about. It’s weird to be like, ‘I just lost $3000.’ It’s such a privileged problem. It makes people say, ‘Stop doing what you’re doing.’”

Prior to legalization, the loneliness of hiding his profession from his friends and partners wore him thin. After legalization, he became more honest about his underground gig. Some friends have been supportive, others less so. “It weeds people out, no pun intended.”

For the brave few, dealing is a recession-proof job. “There is almost always a demand for pot. It’s one of the biggest cash crops in the country. People want it.”

But the drug trade is not exactly stable. Colorado’s price for buying wholesale marijuana has decreased. “People who were street dealers selling eighths have watched everything go down. Same thing for people who are growers. All the growers I talk to talk about how they used to sell a pound for $3200. Now they’re lucky if they can get $2200.”

Dave pays growers more for weed than licensed dispensaries pay and, as a result, licensed growers are willing to risk working with him. These same growhouses invite police in to tour their businesses and work to maintain legitimate appearances.

Even though the price of a pound has gone down in Colorado — his local profits have never been too hot — Dave is grateful for legalization. “Everybody feels a sense of relief that there are less legal repercussions. Even though it’s still illegal to go around with a pound in your car, it’s de-prioritized.”

When it comes to selling weed to east coast connections, he makes more money per pound than before. He can buy cheap marijuana here and sell it for higher prices across the country.

“What I sell is mostly ounces or a pound to people who are then going to break it down and distribute it. I deal with dealers. Not high-level dealers, but dealers.

“[Legalization in Oregon and Washington] has changed things. I’ll talk to someone on the phone and say it’s $3000 a pound. They say, ‘That’s so high; I’m used to $2000 a pound!’ There are still people I sell stuff to at $3000 or $4000 a pound. It’s a very unstable market, yet a very variable market. It depends on peoples’ connections and who they know and don’t know.

“There’s an assumption that legalization will be bad for dealers. I don’t think that’s true. Personally, as a dealer, I think people should weigh that against the greater good of people not being locked up for pot. So sometimes we take an economic hit so people don’t go to jail. Personally, I’m completely in favor of legalization.”

Dave is troubled that 10 percent of sales funds anti- drug law enforcement initiatives. “I think it’s shitty that the money goes to the cops. I know that’s something [legislators] had to put in the bill to get it to pass. I’m glad the bill passed, but it’s an unfortunate part of things.”