One pound of cannabis has roughly 128 eighths (443 grams). One eighth (3.5 grams) of that cannabis sales for 45-50 bucks on the illegal US cannabis market. My price per pound of high quality cannabis, regardless of the strain, is $1500. low-level dealers, and those that have a so called hook-up get a discount on larger quantities purchased at the same time— 300 dollars for an ounce. I have worked hard in my cannabis career to cultivate an exclusive consumer base and because of this all my customers receive a hook up. I no longer sale 50 sacks of weed, its either ounces or half-ounces. When parceled out and sold as ounces, one pound of cannabis can yield a profit of $3300. After subtracting the amount i consume  (on average one quarter ounce week) i net $2300 per month — give or take an eighth.
This is the price breakdown for chronic, cannabis with a high THC content and no seeds. I quit selling sacks with seeds decades ago. At one time i did get requests  for this cheaper “brick weed”. Some prefer the high from the lower THC content and can tolerate the harsh throat burning smoke.  Even though i think there would have been a market for it, I wouldn’t have had a hookup for non-sensimilla type buds.
For those of you still guessing, I am a pot dealer. To clarify, i am a part-time cannabis proprietor. Although I no longer rely solely on my cannabis sales to fund my lifestyle, for the majority of my professional career (~20 years) my lucrative side hustle has been selling chronic to customers who you wouldn’t normally see as cannabis users. For the most part, aside from the pure enjoyment of just getting high, these people have a legitimate medical need for cannabis: depression, anxiety, pain, etc. However, what they lack is a safe venue to purchase the cannabis they need— this is the niche that i fill. They appreciate my offerings, and the safe, discreet operation that i run.
This diverse clientele of like business professionals , teachers, doctors, lawyers and private entrepreneurs primarily pay with 20, 50, and 100 dollar bills. Monthly, I use this cash in ways that are off the grid. For example i use this cash to buy things like groceries, clothing, and nights out at restaurants / bars but i do not pay my household bills with it— well, maybe in a pinch. Regardless of how it is spent i offset my annual income with about 27.5k in cash.
Monetary compensation aside, i have made some amazing lifelong friends. Bound by the same need to relieve pain and anxiety in a safe, discreet and natural manner we exist in this cannabis underground  together.
Sadly for me, the legalization of recreational cannabis in several of the states surrounding the one i live in, is bringing about the quick end of my lucrative side gig. These same doctors, lawyers, and business professionals can now ship themselves whatever cannabis products they need from nearby legal states. My exclusive contacts in the cannabis black-market are no longer a unique competitive advantage.
A small market still exists with those who are not yet bold enough to ship or travel back with the cannabis products they need. I have also done my best to diversify my cannabis portfolio to more than just flower. Dabs, oils, kief and edibles round out my product offerings. The markup on these new products  is marginal and the risk to procure is higher. It is also impossible to carry the multiple cannabis strains that my clientele has become accustomed to in legal states. I focus on the most popular indica, sativa and hybrid strains — Kush, Diesel etc.
I couldn’t be more enthusiastic about the direction cannabis has taken in our country. The prospect of bringing safe and effective medicine to those who need it feels my heart with joy. The advances in plant genetics and consumption modalities, aside from being fascinating, cultivates an incredible user experience. And i would be lying if i didn’t admit that the criminal stigma around the cannabis plant has impacted me in a very real way. However, my revenue is sharply down and It is only a matter of time that my beloved chosen trade will no longer be valid.
I am being pushed into obsolescence by the legal cannabis trade and am now looking to pivot.