Unfortunately that's business mate,I watched a program yesterday about when the gold rush started out in San Fran,the guy who owned the only hardware store there was eventually making the equivalent of 2 million dollars a month from selling super inflated priced mining tools,because he knew he could. There are also some companies out there that sell cheap fem seeds
http://www.justfeminized.com
Just because they can, doesn't make it right. In my opinion that makes them no better than the Colombians! That's the whole problem within the movement toward legalization right now, everyone see dollar signs! Surely, that is NOT how to get the sale of cannabis out of the hands of big, illicit dealers. One of the effects of legalization should be a lowering of price, not driving it even higher. Look at Washington, they are ensuring everyone's profits by outlawing private growing. So what will the poor who need/want it do? Buy from street dealers because it will be cheaper! street dealers will be/ or may already be laughing at the government there! Lets see, if an oz in a dispensary is $400 with all taxes added, and you can buy the same oz on the street for $200........ The movement needs to really fight for everyone's right to grow to keep things in check.
I saw one breeder they other day looking to get $40/seed! Your right, those who want it bad enough will pay it. Yes its still cheaper than buying your weed, at least for some. Here, with the amount i consume, and what I've spent just to get my first grow going, I could have bought a year's supply! Don't get me wrong, I'm thoroughly enjoying growing, but the pricing of seed has me concerned. some of us may be successful at doing a little breeding after some grow experience, but the majority never will.
I love the whole concept of auto flowering plants, and I understand its a lot more work to breed them and end with a viable batch of seeds, so I expect to pay more for them. But I'll say again, $20 per seed? give me a break! If your charging that much, your a thief in my opinion. I just posted a link the other day to a seed bank selling Northern Lights regular seed on sale, 50 for $50! I've seen NL Autos as high as $18. so even with 50% males, and another 15% loss rate the regular seeds will cost you about $2.25 per plant. And you know what? the pollinated auto mother makes just as many seeds as a regular mother plant. And you can clone a regular/ femmed plant. Personally, I'd like to see autoflowers a viable option for all growers, even commercial, but its hard to justify a commercial grow with them at these prices. unless the prices goes to $600/oz.......... oh joy!
So what people pay for recreational cannabis, I guess its whatever they can pay, but for those of us that it is truly a medicine, the current pricing in obscene.