United States must determine that the compound has a high potential for abuse. Second, the Attorney General must go to the Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare, present his evidence and gain approval.”
Craddock nodded to Marcy who removed the chart to reveal still another piece of carefully lettered oak tag. “Assuming agreement between the AG and the Secretary, a committee would be created and asked to make the following determinations.” He banged the pointer against the oak tag, smiling like a stand-up comic anticipating a good punch line. “First, establish the new compound’s actual or relative potential for abuse. Second, collect all scientific data regarding the molecular structure of PURE. If this structure is not known or is still being studied, the proceedings must stop until the psychoactive molecule or compound is identified. Third, determine the history and current pattern of abuse involving the new compound. Fourth, determine the risk to public health, if there is a risk. Fifth, establish the potential for physiological and/or psychological dependence.
“I don’t think they can do this in less than two years. A year to figure it out and a year to do the research. That’s federal. The states are less predictable, because each state has its own laws, but I’d be shocked if the states, with the possible exception of New York and California, move more quickly than the federal government. Most likely, the states will let the feds do the work, then follow behind. The trick is to set up national distribution before introducing PURE to the general public. By the time the legislatures act, PURE will be the hottest drug in the marketplace. Hotter than crack ever was.”
Wendell allowed himself to relax into the chair. Crazy white men. They were the wonder of the world. Stand out there in a suit the color of vanilla ice cream and point at motherfucking charts . Like they were two executives in an office. Funny how when white men wanted to do business with a brother, they learned to talk without saying the “n” word. “What’s this shit gonna cost me?” he asked.
“Thirty-five hundred an ounce. It’ll be the cheapest drug ever seen.”
“Shi-i-i-it. That’s more than what coke’s goin’ for right this minute. How you gonna sell it to dudes buyin’ ten keys at a time?”
“PURE is much more powerful than cocaine. I’m talkin’ about twenty-eight hundred doses in an ounce. Twenty-eight thousand dollars on the street. There’s room for two or three mark-ups between my price and retail. And there’s a bonus, too. Once PURE is established as a force in the marketplace, the formula can be sold to the highest bidder. As I see it, Americans are being forced out of the drug business. South Americans and Asians are taking their place, because most drugs, at present, originate in foreign countries. PURE will not have to be smuggled across international borders. It will be a hundred-percent American. Red, white and blue. Tried and fucking true.”
“How’d you get hold of my name?” Wendell abruptly changed the subject.
“I got it from the aforementioned Deeny Washington. Marcy recruited him for our test marketing project. At first, he was afraid. Afraid of you . He said you were the big dope man for the Lower East Side.”
“I don’t see why you set up that loser with this good dope. Man don’t know shit about dope.”
“Deeny Washington wasn’t chosen for his knowledge of the drug business. I want to test PURE on the open market before I begin to manufacture in large quantities, but it’s very important that any undue attention generated by this test marketing come to a dead end. And I do mean a dead end. Deeny Washington is the ultimate expendable. A terminal junkie with every disease known to man. Once our project is completed, Deeny Washington is gone.”
“And you want me to do it?”
Craddock laughed shortly. “I can see how you’d arrive at that conclusion, but
Craddock nodded to Marcy who removed the chart to reveal still another piece of carefully lettered oak tag. “Assuming agreement between the AG and the Secretary, a committee would be created and asked to make the following determinations.” He banged the pointer against the oak tag, smiling like a stand-up comic anticipating a good punch line. “First, establish the new compound’s actual or relative potential for abuse. Second, collect all scientific data regarding the molecular structure of PURE. If this structure is not known or is still being studied, the proceedings must stop until the psychoactive molecule or compound is identified. Third, determine the history and current pattern of abuse involving the new compound. Fourth, determine the risk to public health, if there is a risk. Fifth, establish the potential for physiological and/or psychological dependence.
“I don’t think they can do this in less than two years. A year to figure it out and a year to do the research. That’s federal. The states are less predictable, because each state has its own laws, but I’d be shocked if the states, with the possible exception of New York and California, move more quickly than the federal government. Most likely, the states will let the feds do the work, then follow behind. The trick is to set up national distribution before introducing PURE to the general public. By the time the legislatures act, PURE will be the hottest drug in the marketplace. Hotter than crack ever was.”
Wendell allowed himself to relax into the chair. Crazy white men. They were the wonder of the world. Stand out there in a suit the color of vanilla ice cream and point at motherfucking charts . Like they were two executives in an office. Funny how when white men wanted to do business with a brother, they learned to talk without saying the “n” word. “What’s this shit gonna cost me?” he asked.
“Thirty-five hundred an ounce. It’ll be the cheapest drug ever seen.”
“Shi-i-i-it. That’s more than what coke’s goin’ for right this minute. How you gonna sell it to dudes buyin’ ten keys at a time?”
“PURE is much more powerful than cocaine. I’m talkin’ about twenty-eight hundred doses in an ounce. Twenty-eight thousand dollars on the street. There’s room for two or three mark-ups between my price and retail. And there’s a bonus, too. Once PURE is established as a force in the marketplace, the formula can be sold to the highest bidder. As I see it, Americans are being forced out of the drug business. South Americans and Asians are taking their place, because most drugs, at present, originate in foreign countries. PURE will not have to be smuggled across international borders. It will be a hundred-percent American. Red, white and blue. Tried and fucking true.”
“How’d you get hold of my name?” Wendell abruptly changed the subject.
“I got it from the aforementioned Deeny Washington. Marcy recruited him for our test marketing project. At first, he was afraid. Afraid of you . He said you were the big dope man for the Lower East Side.”
“I don’t see why you set up that loser with this good dope. Man don’t know shit about dope.”
“Deeny Washington wasn’t chosen for his knowledge of the drug business. I want to test PURE on the open market before I begin to manufacture in large quantities, but it’s very important that any undue attention generated by this test marketing come to a dead end. And I do mean a dead end. Deeny Washington is the ultimate expendable. A terminal junkie with every disease known to man. Once our project is completed, Deeny Washington is gone.”
“And you want me to do it?”
Craddock laughed shortly. “I can see how you’d arrive at that conclusion, but
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