Zeek was a normal young man seeking a hookup just two weeks ago, now he faces a dilemma. "I went to my guy and he was like, 'hey, you're a pretty good customer, how would you like to get your stuff at wholesale?' and I was like, 'sure, who wouldn't?' but I knew there was a catch."
Zeek faces the same problem as many young drug users. The growth and success of multi-level marketing has made it increasingly difficult for people of all ages to use drugs without being asked to join their pyramid scheme.
"First he introduced me to his guy, and then they were explaining to me how it works. They were like 'First you buy enough for you and your friends, then you find one of your friends who wants to sell some, then you move up the chain and you have them find people who want to sell until you are a direct distributor', and I'm like, wait a minute, this sounds like Amway."
After describing his dreams and goals in detail, Zeeks dealer's sponsor showed him a twenty-minute video full of young successful dealers with fancy cars and beautiful women, at the end was the slogan, "Even you can big pimp it." Zeek explains, "I was totally freaking out, like what the hell was this? I just wanted to shave a couple bucks off my sack [unit of drugs] and the next thing I know they're talking like I'm going to be rolling with the Colombians."
Much of the marketing material generated by the North American Pushers Association focuses only on the potential for success, failing to mention how many eager young entrepreneurs face challenges such as loss of friends, market volatility and prison rape. "I don't want to be known as 'That Drug Dealer Guy' to all my friends, you know?" explains Zeek.
Despite their perfectly plausible claims that their products have never been tested on animals and that no one is forced in to buying it, Zeek rightfully is questioning the legality of it all. "At first it kind of seemed like a good idea, but now they're calling me every day and they keep explaining the point system and all that. Shit man, I just wanna get high, you know?"
