so i'm wondering

[justinsane33]

i was going to call up botanic labs in longmont and then i started thinking. really expensive ($20/g). limited quantities for sale (7g/visit). appt. only (just annoying). basically it sounds like the dude's in it strictly for the money. if that's his thing, cool. i can't imagine he'll stay in business long after things start getting regulated but am i wrong here? am i misjudging the guy? his medicine is supposed to be great.

justinsane33 Reviewed by justinsane33 on 11-13-2009. so i'm wondering i was going to call up botanic labs in longmont and then i started thinking. really expensive ($20/g). limited quantities for sale (7g/visit). appt. only (just annoying). basically it sounds like the dude's in it strictly for the money. if that's his thing, cool. i can't imagine he'll stay in business long after things start getting regulated but am i wrong here? am i misjudging the guy? his medicine is supposed to be great. Rating: 5

[Dietblonde]

Never been there but I've heard he has good medicine.

Because he charges extra doesn't mean he's in it for the money. Maybe he thinks his medicine is so good that it warrants a steeper price. Also, he's limiting his medicine, perhaps at the detriment of his patients, and for what? I think if he was greedy he would try to push more product out the door. I think he's ultimately trying to cater to the business class stoner, because who else can continuously afford that?

Because he charges $20/gram, I won't even bother.

[imoutclimbing]

What's unfolding around us now is the potential (or probability) for a large industry. Botanic Labs has an interesting position in this new fledgling industry. Their niche is providing the highest quality around medicine around. Sure you're going to pay more (that's just supply/demand), but if you want to see how things should be done, it's where to go right now. Botanic Labs treats cultivation as an art form, rather than a production-line process.

Additionally, when you see how 'it should be done', it will be easier when you are choosing between strains at your local dispensary, where the average quality is significantly lower.

In the long run, I would expect to see more high-end shops (as total demand grows). I've heard about one called Kali Botanik in the metro area, but don't know when it's opening.

[justinsane33]

if it's totally legalized i definitely see room for more but until that time a big problem facing those places is that the state expects them to do more than just sell weed and he's certainly not doing that. someone with a problem that actually needs the level of potency he's putting out will most likely not have the income to afford it. i'm all for legalization but i'm not gonna support that type of set-up. C3I has some pretty awesome stuff too. not to mention one brown mouse.

[imoutclimbing]

if it's totally legalized i definitely see room for more but until that time a big problem facing those places is that the state expects them to do more than just sell weed and he's certainly not doing that. someone with a problem that actually needs the level of potency he's putting out will most likely not have the income to afford it. i'm all for legalization but i'm not gonna support that type of set-up. C3I has some pretty awesome stuff too. not to mention one brown mouse.

Three things here:

First demand... Let's do the math. Ppl on registry last year: ~2000. Ppl on registry this year: 10,000+. Disposable income in Colorado: above average. Dispensary regulations in Colorado: minimal & disorganized. While you may not support him, I'd say he's pretty well positioned for success (and probably has a hard time keeping up with demand; hence, the limit). C3 has above average quality (and as far as dispensaries go, they're definitely above average), but BL is the high-end (and does fill an important part of the 'supply' - the benchmark function).

Two... While I can appreciate your viewpoint, this isn't about you. It's about all medically qualified patients. Nobody should be limiting choices and telling patients what to do but doctors. Open up the choices and the the patients decide.

Finally, the additional services... All this talk about additional services is crap. It is various entities trying to manipulate the system via pricing. If I want additional services, I'll go get 'em. I don't want them inflating the price of my meds by rule.

My feeling is... Additional services should mean: 1) discussions about strain selection for certain afflictions, 2) discussions about usage forms & frequency, 3) discussions about safety, 4) discussions about growing, etc... These are issues that pertain to cannabis. Yoga, diet, etc (while nice) have nothing directly to do with medication.

If you want to see the practical application, look at pharmacists. While under very different protocols, the function is similar. In addition to dispensing medication, they provide additional services; they act as advisors. That is appropriate.

[Dietblonde]

Here's my issue...I buy A strains for $10/gram from one of the most reputable dispensaries in the state (C3I). They have some of best marijuana I've ever had. They make marijuana that they're proud of and know is good, but they specialize in helping those most in need by keeping prices low. That's half the reason I shop there and why I won't shop at "specialty" dispensaries who are going for A+ strains and gouging people for it. And besides, nobody sets off on a grow not wanting anything else but producing an A+ strain. Why would you not try to give it everything you got? When you write things like, "Botanic Labs treats cultivation as an art form, rather than a production-line process," you're insinuating everyone else is only running a production line process. Botanic Labs ain't the only company putting out top notch product. I'm not looking for an art project that I can put on my wall, I'm looking for something good to smoke. I don't care if you took meth so you never had to sleep so you could live and be with the plants 24/7.

"Additionally, when you see how 'it should be done', it will be easier when you are choosing between strains at your local dispensary, where the average quality is significantly lower."

-What an arrogant thing to say. Why are you being a Botanic Labs apologist?

And how much of a difference is there from an A strain and an A+ strain? I'm more than happy with what I'm getting, and I would assume most people would.

Just because you CAN charge more, doesn't mean you SHOULD.

[senorx12562]

Can someone please explain to me why businesses that sell "medicine" should be under some obligation to sell their product for less than they can get for it. Why are they any different than a furniture store, or for that matter, a pharmacy. Or, for that matter, that same business when she was still just a dealer and not a dispensary owner. This seems to be a constant refrain. If you don't like the price, buy somewhere else. Or buy from your favorite dealer. Anymore, it seems like the dispensaries have higher prices than the black market. Oh that's right, it comes with a massage with happy ending at the dispensary, so as to qualify them as a "caregiver."

[kindunos]

Can someone please explain to me why businesses that sell "medicine" should be under some obligation to sell their product for less than they can get for it.

People don't know how to feel about buying their medicine as a commodity in my opinion.

I don't resent anyone for capitalizing on this business and making a profit. But right now ANYONE can make a profit in this business. Demand is high and quality and price varies wildly. Until the laws and demand stabilize the market will be volatile.

I don't think anyone is saying it's wrong to charge what you can get for your product. But when I'm buying for $250/oz basically the same product I see other patients paying $65/eighth for, there's definitely some perceived gouging going on. Notice I said perceived.

[Dietblonde]

Can someone please explain to me why businesses that sell "medicine" should be under some obligation to sell their product for less than they can get for it. Why are they any different than a furniture store, or for that matter, a pharmacy. Or, for that matter, that same business when she was still just a dealer and not a dispensary owner. This seems to be a constant refrain. If you don't like the price, buy somewhere else. Or buy from your favorite dealer. Anymore, it seems like the dispensaries have higher prices than the black market. Oh that's right, it comes with a massage with happy ending at the dispensary, so as to qualify them as a "caregiver."

I love happy endings.

Sure, its an open market out there and if we don't like a price, we can shop elsewhere, and I intend to....However, there are vulnerable patients out there who don't know any better.

I'm no Ralph Nader marijuana Raider (though a consumer advocacy group protecting patients might be a worthwhile endeavor to anyone with the ambition), I would like people to know that for every Botanic Lab out there marketing to the business class of stoners saying that their medicine is the only medicine that counts or works properly, there are plenty of great dispensaries that work as or like a non-profit organization, creating exceptional medicinal marijuana for reasonable prices. This false notion that only Botanic Lab is creating good medicine will scare people into only shopping at their dispensary. An ounce of KB on the black market in Wyoming doesn't even go as high as BL.

[justinsane33]

wow. didn't mean to start an argument. just a discussion. i don't hate the botanic labs guy. i was just stating that i probably wouldn't go there. i might one day if i start hearing awesome reviews left and right like c3i. i paid 19/g the other day for some querkle. it's just that i bought it from shane and c3i and those guys are super friendly. i'll pay extra for better service. i do it at one brown mouse. they're not cheap either. that's just me. if there's a market for 'quality' bud then that's awesome for everyone cuz they'll drive their own prices down when there's a surplus of shops. personally, i can afford it. i'd just rather not.