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He Wants to Be the 'Two Buck Chuck' of Pot

Entrepreneur wants to transform marijuana growing

By Nick McMaster, Newser Staff

Posted Jul 24, 2010 3:30 PM CDT

(Newser) – Jeff Wilcox is set to become pot's first great entrepreneur. The California businessman has convinced the Oakland city council to allow the construction of factory-style marijuana farms, aimed at producing decent-quality bud at below-average prices. For now, Wilcox is filling a niche in the local medical marijuana market. But he sees cut-rate pot—specifically, the 58 pounds a day that could be pumped out of his planned 7-acre site—as a prime mover after the drug is fully legalized. Reuters pays a visit.

Wilcox likens his efforts to those of Trader Joe's, the grocery chain that's found success selling "Two Buck Chuck"—a reasonable bottle of wine for $2. "The new Two Buck Chuck will be $40 an ounce pot," Wilcox said. His plan calls for a 3% grower's tax, which he estimates would send the California government over $2 million in revenue yearly. For a look at Proposition 19, the California ballot initiative that would legalize weed, click here.

In this Oct. 22, 2009 file photo, a medical-marijuana user holds a homegrown bud in Portland, Maine. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File)

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 34 comments

Observer

Jul 25, 2010 7:47 PM CDT

Smart Dude. He'll get his permit. The tax rate will be much more than 3%. How soon will the Feds finally get real and decriminalize the stuff. 50 million Americans smoke weed. And half the cops.

paulylama

Jul 25, 2010 2:08 PM CDT

all you non-pot legalizing heads make me laugh. are you really happy with the war on drugs/war on our own people? we spend millions to protect poppy and marijuana crops for the local infrastructure in Afghanistan, but when it crosses our border, now we spend millions more to combat it's arrival. THAT'S THE DEFINITION OF INSANITY!!!!

Cat-Lover

Jul 25, 2010 8:44 AM CDT

If we keep legalizing pot in the United States, as we should, soon citizens from Arizona will travel down to Mexico in droves selling their wares to the locals there in need of safety.

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Money • Health • US

California • taxes • medical marijuana • marijuana • Oakland • tax revenue • pot • illegal drugs • Proposition 19 • Jeff Wilcox • Trader Joe's • Two Buck Chuck

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He Wants to Be the 'Two Buck Chuck' of Pot

Entrepreneur wants to transform marijuana growing

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

California • taxes • medical marijuana • marijuana • Oakland • tax revenue • pot • illegal drugs • Proposition 19 • Jeff Wilcox • Trader Joe's • Two Buck Chuck

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At least 16 received letters this week threatening just that

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A surprising number of conservatives are all for legalization

Smokin' Design Features Futuristic Pot Plant

Laboratory-like Oakland facility aims to supply med marijuana dispensaries

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