Urdedpal
New Member
Dealer Keeps Things Low Key for Obvious Reasons.
Name: "Paco"
Age: 45
Occupation: Pot dealer
Bio: This chill Caribbean heartbreaker first started selling reefer in the Plateau back in the early '80s but gave it all up mid-decade after meeting a nice girl and deciding to make babies together. Accustomed to living the high life as a dealer, for the next several years Paco took on a series of low-paying, menial gigs in the effort to stay on the straight and narrow and provide a "decent" home for his offspring. "Back then it was crazy, mon, I was making lots of money but there were constantly people coming over buying small amounts like dimebags, and I had no time for myself anymore. I was constantly on call, on the job, I was sick of it." When the couple ultimately separated, Paco, who figures he smokes roughly an eighth of an ounce of weed a day, got back into the biz on a smaller scale "to keep myself in smoke." He claims to be one of the few downtown dealers left who still operates out of his home. "These days it's mostly pager guys doing deliveries."
Something that's killing the pot business: Home growing. "So many people have started growing their own the past few years, there really aren't as many customers as their once was. Worse, sometimes people are growing more than they can use, and get this, they're giving away the shit, mon! I wish they'd give it to me. It's hard finding good customers now."
Is this a business he would like to someday pass down to his children? "No way! It's not that it's a shitty business, but it's not something you want to see your kids doing. You know, it's illegal."
As a dealer, does the idea of legalizing marijuana rub him the wrong way? "No way, mon, legalization would be great. I'm a smoker first, mon."
A few invaluable tips for those looking to get into the business: "Grow your own. Cut out the middleman and you can make a shitload of money. And check out who your customers are-the narcs they send these days can be pretty convincing sometimes. Young people, wearing university jackets, it's gotten harder to recognize them. Really, they look just like students now."
How many times his place has been busted into by people looking to steal his stash: Three times in over two decades.
Who he perceives as a bigger threat, the cops or machine-gun-wielding thugs stopping by to rip him off? "Actually, I don't worry about either too much anymore-although I take precautions."
One downside to dealing reefer: "The stigma. You meet a straight girl or something, and you tell her what you do, and you know, they don't always like that. "
Musical preferences: Sean Paul, dancehall reggae.
Childhood ambition: To become a pilot.
Last book read: Heart of Darkness, by Joseph Conrad.
Words of wisdom: "No condition is permanent-unless you're doing 25 to life in jail."
Source: Mirror (CN QU)
Copyright: 2006 Communications Gratte-Ciel Ltee
Contact: letters@mtl-mirror.com
Website: The Montreal Mirror : News, Arts, Film, Music
Name: "Paco"
Age: 45
Occupation: Pot dealer
Bio: This chill Caribbean heartbreaker first started selling reefer in the Plateau back in the early '80s but gave it all up mid-decade after meeting a nice girl and deciding to make babies together. Accustomed to living the high life as a dealer, for the next several years Paco took on a series of low-paying, menial gigs in the effort to stay on the straight and narrow and provide a "decent" home for his offspring. "Back then it was crazy, mon, I was making lots of money but there were constantly people coming over buying small amounts like dimebags, and I had no time for myself anymore. I was constantly on call, on the job, I was sick of it." When the couple ultimately separated, Paco, who figures he smokes roughly an eighth of an ounce of weed a day, got back into the biz on a smaller scale "to keep myself in smoke." He claims to be one of the few downtown dealers left who still operates out of his home. "These days it's mostly pager guys doing deliveries."
Something that's killing the pot business: Home growing. "So many people have started growing their own the past few years, there really aren't as many customers as their once was. Worse, sometimes people are growing more than they can use, and get this, they're giving away the shit, mon! I wish they'd give it to me. It's hard finding good customers now."
Is this a business he would like to someday pass down to his children? "No way! It's not that it's a shitty business, but it's not something you want to see your kids doing. You know, it's illegal."
As a dealer, does the idea of legalizing marijuana rub him the wrong way? "No way, mon, legalization would be great. I'm a smoker first, mon."
A few invaluable tips for those looking to get into the business: "Grow your own. Cut out the middleman and you can make a shitload of money. And check out who your customers are-the narcs they send these days can be pretty convincing sometimes. Young people, wearing university jackets, it's gotten harder to recognize them. Really, they look just like students now."
How many times his place has been busted into by people looking to steal his stash: Three times in over two decades.
Who he perceives as a bigger threat, the cops or machine-gun-wielding thugs stopping by to rip him off? "Actually, I don't worry about either too much anymore-although I take precautions."
One downside to dealing reefer: "The stigma. You meet a straight girl or something, and you tell her what you do, and you know, they don't always like that. "
Musical preferences: Sean Paul, dancehall reggae.
Childhood ambition: To become a pilot.
Last book read: Heart of Darkness, by Joseph Conrad.
Words of wisdom: "No condition is permanent-unless you're doing 25 to life in jail."
Source: Mirror (CN QU)
Copyright: 2006 Communications Gratte-Ciel Ltee
Contact: letters@mtl-mirror.com
Website: The Montreal Mirror : News, Arts, Film, Music