@lwien was using back alley as a figure of speech.
I used to receive my cannabis by black market many years, too many to count. It's only the last little over a year I've been getting from a dispensary. I used to get mine from a trusted friend. It's only the last 7 years he was getting his through someone growing for medical. Before that sometimes I would get some questionable product. It would have bits of hair or cotton sometimes, too many big stems. An ounce of bud would have an off taste occasionally. Once you buy, the sale is over. If its shit weed you're stuck.
During the summer cannabis used to be hard get in July and August. Can't remember why that was. Possibly waiting for the summer crop to grow and cure?
Speaking of curing, there were occasions where the cannabis would be too damp and you had to try to dry it out yourself. Plus it would be heavy weighing out because of the added moisture. Or too dried out and you had to put a piece of lettuce or Apple in the bag.
How about when you find out your trusted friend in the black market or his friend was busted. That screws everything up when that happens.
I'm sure there are places where it's a crap shoot every time they buy their bud even in this day and age. Just because things are cool in your world.