WHAT'S REALLY IN THE WEED

Re: Unintended Consequences, letter to the editor, Aug. 1.

Letter writer Ken Lane writes, "Decriminalization of marijuana would
imply decriminalization of the variety of drugs with which marijuana
is often found to be infused. Methamphetamine is fairly a common one,
but Ecstasy, LSD and PCP are among the many other drugs marijuana is
sometimes laced with." It makes me wonder what his dealer is slipping
into his weed.

Even though this idea is not new, does it make any sense for a drug
dealer (a black market businessperson) to add more expensive drugs to
his weed and not charge for it, let alone not tell his customers about it?

Dealers may not be the smartest people in the world, but they do know
a lot about giving customers exactly what they want, for a fair
price, because it's bad for business if they don't. The notion that
dealers slip different drugs into their weed to get their customers
"hooked" is an urban myth.

Many people mix other drugs with their weed in order to increase
their high, but they do it themselves, of their own choosing. It
makes no sense for a dealer to give away their stock for free.

The most common drugs that people infuse their marijuana with are
alcohol and tobacco, which can be bought anywhere with the approval
of the biggest drug dealer we know: the government.

Victor Daveikis

Waterloo, Ont.