“DOPE ” RUNNING.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 February 1923, Page 1

“DOPE ” RUNNING.

CONDITIONS IN CANADA. VILLAINOUS ILLICIT TRADE. WAX CANT I, Fob. 1 A member of the crew of the schooner Lottie Dennett which arrived here from the Pacific Coast yesterday, when asked it lie could supply any information regarding the illicit liiptor trade in the United States replied that he had md recently been to the States, hut he knew that in Canada “dope” was being -mid all over the place. He said that he meant by “dope," a concoction of various drugs. On Hie ('oast there acre scores and scores of plicate houses in every town, where otic could without difficulty purchase those concoct ions. “In fact," -aid the sailor, “il almost seemed as il -nine oi Ihc demons of the bottomless pit -.in mjyed up in ibis rotten it' • pr-try. which destroy rr| r\old nally .a!! manhood that happened to gid within Us grip. Once yon contract the ‘dope’ halgt." lie added, “it holds yon in its relentless grip. The craving grows, and as a result crimes increase. The ‘dope lieml' simple cannot resist, and must have money to keep on buying. If lie cannot get it one way, he will not hesitate to rot) or kill." There was one bright feature, however. for the authorities are doing their best to stamp out the illicit trade.: the cordon round "dupe'' runners was lining tighten-'! up. With such an enormous stretch of country as I amnia and the I’nitcd State-, tl was exceedingly difficult: however to wine out a trade which had so many opport.unit ter In flourish. One of l-he sadde-l features was ! see what is known as “dom'd lintis"liolds.” that is, father, mother, sister* and brothers oil craving tor D damnahle drugs.