I'm obviously addicted to this thread, despite some of the bollox in it, so here I go again. At last, someone to agree with! Dave, McGrath and my bestest friend Peg may well be gobsmacked when I say that's the best suggestion I've heard so far and it's something I've advocated for a long time (5 years, since my lad moved from pot to amphetamines to smack). Nice one Dave.

In case the pot-heads in this thread don't get it, here's the reason why I'm in total agreement with Dave and his medical mate. The methods employed by Dealers, Pushers, call them what you like, are masterpieces of psychological manipulation - they know all the buttons to push and when to push them. Removal of the dealer is the key, but it's no good just removing the bottom rung of the ladder, cannabis (and this is what I said right back at the start), because they'll simply begin their process on rung two. Believe it or not, these guys are VERY smart (probably as smart or even smarter than Peg's Gods, The Intelligent And Highly Educated - come to think of it many dealers ARE intelligent and highly-educated) and they know exactly how to hook people in. Many may have the nouse to avoid the hooks, (yes Peg et al, not all ... blah, blah, blah) but others (too many others) may not.

BTW Peg, you seem to view me as an idiot. I'm too modest to boast about my own accomplishments but let me assure you that I too am intelligent, highly educated and make my pretty comfortable living in one of the professions (no clues as to which one, to avoid recognition). I'd have hoped that my vocabulary and ability to use English in a reasonably competent fashion might have led you at least some way towards this conclusion (or do I need to be a cannabis-user to qualify?).

FWIW - my lad doubts that it would work quite as perfectly as Dave's medical friend suggests, because drug trafficking isn't actually about drugs, they're just a commodity to be traded like beans and rice - it's about criminal activity aimed at making large amounts of money by assuring trade to a captive clientele, and the Big Boys, the real businessmen, the ones you wouldn't recognise as traffickers if you passed them in the street, who live in very large houses, drive brand-new Mercs and educate their kids in private schools, would find ways of dipping their sticky fingers in, no matter what. However, he agrees it's probably the best suggestion he's heard, and the most likely to achieve it's aims.

Incidentally Dave, did your friend happen to elucidate as to how the majority of his clients began their journey to addiction, what their very first illegal drug of choice was? I've got a very handsome pension fund building up that I'd cheerfully wager on the answer to that one.