Pubdate: Wed, 26 Feb 2003
Source: Royal Gazette, The (Bermuda)
Copyright: 2003 The Royal Gazette Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.theroyalgazette.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2103
Author: Carla Zuill

CANNABIS SHORTAGE BLAMED FOR VIOLENCE

An ongoing marijuana shortage could be linked to the recent number of 
violent outbreaks in recent months.

While there are no Police statistics to verify this claim, Inspector Larry 
Smith, who heads the Narcotics division of the Bermuda Police Service said 
the theory was credible.

"This claim has merit," he said. "Police intelligence has passed on that 
there is a shortage, which can lead to irrational behaviour."

The Royal Gazette spoke to several young men ­ who asked their identities 
not be revealed ­ who agreed with the claim.

"There are a lot of people talking about the shortage," said a 33-year-old 
Southampton man. "Guys are going around looking for herb everywhere. 
Everybody's asking for it." Another man, a 32-year-old from Pembroke who 
called himself a "regular weed smoker", agreed.

"Most definitely there is a shortage. People who usually smoke, are 
drinking lots of alcohol. Since there's no weed, they will increasingly use 
alcohol."

The user said he believed the events of September 11, 2001 were causing the 
shortage.

"With heightened security, and especially now with the threat of war, it's 
harder to get it into the country," he said. "The tighter the security, the 
less chance there is of drugs getting on this Island."

"All of the major routes are now being blocked," said another Pembroke man. 
"So alcohol is the next available thing on the Island to easily consume if 
you do not use coke (cocaine) or heroin."

He also claimed the shortage was causing flare-ups among younger members of 
the community.

"Eighty percent of the youth in Bermuda use marijuana ­ as young as 11 and 
12 years old," the man said.

And because demand is so high for the drug, the man said some dealers, 
particularly in the City of Hamilton, are resorting to selling rabbit feed 
because of its similar look and texture.

Most pet feed stores contacted said they had not seen an increase in rabbit 
feed sales.

"We have seen an increase in sales, but I cannot say it is because of the 
marijuana shortage," said the manager of Noah's Ark in Devonshire. "When 
other shops are out, people come to us."

And while none of the stores said they were out, a spokesperson for Animal 
and Garden House said about two weeks ago, she observed two 
suspicious-looking men in the store.

"They bought three or four bags of alfalfa squares, which I've been told 
people use for filler in marijuana bags," she said.

Asked why marijuana has become a staple of some peoples' lives, a 
32-year-old Devonshire man told The Royal Gazette: "Because Bermuda has so 
many restrictions, they need it to calm down. They need a draw to relax 
because it's a stress reliever."
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart