Here’s a little #tbt, but this is related to the post about the entrepreneur who uses his “past mistakes” as a resume/elevator pitch for his startup that partners with employers who will hire formerly incarcerated. This isn’t a secret, but I started selling drugs when I was 20, altho it was just a side hustle to the other illegal shit I was doing for money. I didn’t even really use drugs at the time, but I did it because I could. I also didn’t even “need” the money lol. Between the ages of 22-24, being a psychoactives sales person was my main side hustle–again, didn’t need the money. People want drugs for different reasons. I supplied them as long as people (or the suppliers I acquired from in bulk) didn’t get on my fucking nerves. Substances and users of many types. Some it was medical, some therapeutic, and some purely recreational or experimental. I don’t think it’s inherently wrong, nor should it be criminal. It didn’t “hurt” anyone by doing my best to provide the best services they requested, as well as harm reduction tips. I don’t push it on anyone, and everyone involved is an adult. If people are concerned about the cartel violence up the chain, then maybe they should be advocating for all drug policy reform and not worrying themselves so much about the people who sell or use the drugs. If someone seems to have compulsive use issues (or generally no respect for boundaries), I ghost them. That’s about as far as I will intervene. I don’t have control over their lives nor do I want to. I’m not a substance use counselor. I don’t try to be a hero. I have boundaries. Even with harm reduction work ppl will call/text/email all hours of the day/night wanting something. Whether that’s asking for drugs I already declined to help them find, asking for medical advice I’m not qualified to dispense, or driving across town to babysit a non-life threatening situation at 3am. I wouldn’t be “grateful” for being arrested (never had to deal with that thankfully), and I don’t celebrate drug busts or drug arrests. If we cared about people’s lives we’d be giving access to resources people need and not medically gatekeeping or price gouging for maximum profits.