One difficulty in writing a drug dealer's manual is the fact that there are so many subtleties involved that are very difficult to explain. This is one of the harder sections to put into words.

Basically, if people like you and trust you, they'll be willing to sell to you, and hopefully give you fair deals. If they don't like you or don't trust you, they will generally claim that they do not sell pot at all, or that they happen to be out at that moment.

So how do you get them to like and trust you? My best advice for this is the best advice for dating as well: just be yourself. Be open and honest. A good drug dealer will trust per gut, and if you're acting phony, pe's likely to pick up on it.

Then simply ask everybody you can think of, starting with the people you already know who sell pot, or know lots of people who do. I've found hookups from very unexpected places. And remember all of the following six rules. Memorize them. Some dealers won't require you to follow all of them, but until you discuss it with per, it's best to follow every single one.

1. Respect your dealer or hookup and per paranoia. If pe's selling pot to you, pe's taking a lot more risk than you are.

2. Never show up without calling.

3. Never bring over unfamiliar people. Do not bring your children, as the penalties for committing drug crimes in front of children are greater. Do not leave anyone waiting in a car, even if it's a couple blocks away.

4. Never say anything over the telephone, even something like "could you help me out with something?" If the cops have a phone tapped, they're going to know what you're talking about. Most dealers require their customers to keep their mouths shut over the phone line, saying nothing more telling than "Can I come over to visit?" But even if you only say that much a steady dealer will probably know what you want.

4. Always ask for drugs in person, and in complete privacy, or wait for the dealer to bring up the subject. Just because a dealer is hanging out with people, doesn't mean pe trusts them.

5. Never stay less than half an hour in a dealer's home. One major way that people get busted is by having too many people coming and going from their house. Drug dealers are people, not convenience stores.

The six rules are the things that will piss off a dealer and make per quit selling to you, plus bring added risk for both of you. The following are my suggestions on how to act to make the dealer like you better, beyond per safety concerns.

1. Never beg or act desperate. Dealers generally feel uncomfortable selling to people who do not have healthy relationships with their drug.

2. Be yourself. Don't try to act young and hip if you're old. Don't act black if you're white. Don't pretend to be an experienced user if you're still experimenting. When you ask someone for drugs, pe will look you in the eye and ask perself, "Is this guy for real? Does pe look like a phony?"

3. Don't be a greedy hog. The first few sacks that you buy from a dealer are going to be the smallest. Once your dealer gets to know you, pe will probably hook you up more generously, but the first few buys are the most important if you wish to create a lasting relationship. Match bowls with the dealer, or offer to smoke a bowl out of your sack. Don't complain about your sack. Just buy it or don't buy it, but apologize for wasting per time if you don't buy it.

There's also little things you can do to appear more professional. Always having cash on-hand is a big plus in the eyes of most suppliers. Some prefer that you face your bills in the same direction for easier counting and organization.

Beyond that, there's not a lot of advice I can give you on finding suppliers. You've got to know the right people, and you've got to have good social skills. I can't help with that.

Once you find a safe and reliable dealer, it's best to try to hang onto that connection, even if you buy from others as well. The more suppliers you have the more competition they will have and the more likely they'll offer you better deals.