Cannabis dealer: 'Drugs, they will wreck you' | Northland News | Local News in Northland

Northland continually tops the statistics when it comes to the police's annual cannabis recovery operation. Reporter Kristin Edge talks to a long-time dealer and user. "Bob" tells a sorry story of a double life and one of regrets thanks to his 30-year on-and-off relationship with cannabis.


YOU COULD say Bob has had a potted history.

First he started growing pot, then dealing the green stuff and then using the drug.

He was sought after by gangs as a professional indoor grower and experienced the underbelly of the New Zealand drug scene.

And while there was plenty of cash, ultimately dealing in drugs was a downward spiral. Now, as a grandfather in his early 60s, the Northland man totally regrets his involvement with cannabis.

It has meant jail time, life-threatening liaisons, shattered dreams and a litany of lies to those he loves.

Reflecting on his life, he reckons if he could start over he would "never touch the bloody stuff".

"Never in a million years would I get involved with cannabis. It's cost me personally and it hasn't been worth it."

He reckons if he hadn't chosen a life of drugs he could be in Australia working the mines and making the big bucks - legal bucks.

Bob began tinkering with cannabis when he was 17 but didn't have much luck growing outdoors, battling the elements, animals and "patch pirates".

He gave it up - until his interest was pricked by an article on hydroponics. He secretly rigged up a growing unit in a shed, which included using mercury vapourising lights, and described his crop of 150 plants as "mildly successful".

It was the technological side of growing that made him want to grow better and better crops. His friends quickly recognised he was an expert and used Bob to help them set up indoor growing operations.

The stakes soon increased. Bob's reputation spread to the gangs and he was employed by them as a growing consultant.

While he was growing he did not use cannabis and Bob reckons that's why he was such a good dealer.

The proceeds he made from his drug ventures were lucrative. When dealing, there was a constant supply of money with stashes at home mounting up to $30,000 at a time.

But the cash did not equate to a decadent lifestyle.

"You can't set your life up around drug money. It's play money. But you can't buy a farm or assets because the cops just seize it all under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

"I've had threats and stand overs. I've had to sort a few things out with gangs. It's been Underbelly stuff.

"You don't realise how deep you are. The drug scene quickly sucks you in.

"When I was involved in the underworld I was always worried ... always watching my back."

The good times came to an abrupt halt with police raiding his property and catching him green-handed. His prison lag was lengthy after being found guilty of multiple possession of cannabis for supply charges.

"The impact was harder on the children and wife than on me. It was a small community so it was front-page news and everyone knew."

Bob turned to cannabis for pain relief. He was on a cocktail of pills to numb the pain. It was the side effects of the pills - retching, headaches and lack of sex drive - that he says forced him to start using cannabis.

But his wife was against him growing and so began another string of lies he kept hidden for a couple of years before being busted by police.

"I had to do it undercover which caused a fair few problems. I had to live a double life. There was mistrust and the lies.

"I likened it to having an affair for a couple of years. I kept it hidden from her."

Then he was busted again. That put strain on his marriage.

Bob says young people aren't educated about the consequences of drugs or convictions.

There is genuine regret in his voice as he talks about lost dreams.

It was a sobering experience when he was refused entry into Australia.

"It was devastating. We were over there with friends and my wife. They went on and I had no choice.

"Yeap it was gut-wrenching. I was put back on the plane and sent home."

His wife has dreamed of touring Europe and seeing historic castles. It will never happen - Bob won't be allowed in.

"No one tells you about this side. If you have a drug conviction you can't go anywhere. You are staying in New Zealand."

His advice for youngsters is succinct.

"Don't do drugs, it will wreck you.

"Think. People end up living their lives around drugs.

"The costs are far too great."