@ Pontifex
^ I don't know about the difference between #4 and #3 but I do know there are far higher amounts of 3/6-MAM in tar than there are in #4 due to lower purity, and most base is far less refined than "proper" #4 so it's a fairly safe bet that yes, there would be a difference.
Add to that my own personal experience with the wide difference in taste and effects between the different types of smack and from a purely "educated guesswork" standpoint I'd say definitely. Worth doing some reading into though, maybe, if you're bothered (I'm not).
There is definately more MAM in tar. However, when speaking about south american heroin, one usually refers to #4 heroin from Colombia. It got there strating in the 1990s I believe when seeds and technical knowhow were imported from SE Asia. At anyrate, this is the gear that predominates East of the Mississippi river in the markets of places like NYC, New Jersey, Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, ect... I have been told, though, that the color sanges from white to brown though the powder can't be smoked.
Tar heroin is technical North American (produced in Mexico)and is produced using crude techniques. I doubt that the opium is refined to morphine base and glacial acetic acid is often used in lieu of acetic anhydride.
Good tar in my experience has a floral but bitter medicine like taste. I think it is somewhat underated- some can be fairly decent.
Anyway, Nat Geo finally had their London episode. That was somewhat of a letdown from my perspective. The 2 drugs focused on were cocaine and cannabis. They said that cocaine use is way up and it is common upper and middle class. Cannabis by contrast was carecterized as a working class drug. Apparently the UK is the cocaine capital of Europe or the world as a percentage basis. Supply lines go to west Africa and then on to spain. From there to the UK.
There was very little to no mention of heroin, MDxx, mephedrone, ect.
But one thing that is interesting is that as the colombian cartels try to find new supply routes, #4 colombia might find its why to the UK. I had been wondering about this during the drought. Plus production in Burma is up.
From the documentary it does seem that London is a vibrant and beautiful city, from what I could see. Anyway, have to see it again because I have some questions.
Another interesting aside, when Colombian drugs go to the Eastern USA they usually go via Puerto Rico, because once inside the Island territory their are no borders to cross and their is alot of corruption there. Why mules go through Dominica or other places is anyones guess.
Alot of coke in the past destined for The Netherlands used current or former Island territories like Aruba or Saint Maarten as a way station.
Spain has displaced Amsterdam as the hub of cocaine importation and it and not the UK I believe (though I could be mistaken) has the the most users per capita.
By the way welcome back
Bigman
Does Her Majesty's prisons have lots of dope on the inside?