Decriminalising cannabis alone would lead to the streets being flooded with harder drugs, a former heroin pusher believes.

Jahma Gibbons — who made $10,000 a day selling heroin in Bermuda several years ago — said dealers would simply switch to more dangerous substances if the profit was taken out of selling marijuana.

While some have focused on the issue of decriminalising cannabis, Mr. Gibbons said this should be extended to all illegal drugs, making substances including heroin, crack and cocaine available to addicts via Government.

He said this move — suggested two weeks ago by Progressive Labour Party backbencher Ashfield DeVent — would force drug sellers into getting proper jobs instead.

Mr. Gibbons, now a motivational speaker in schools and Westgate, told The Royal Gazette: "There's a lot of guys in Bermuda who only sell marijuana. They will not sell harder drugs for some moral reason.

"If we decided to decriminalise marijuana, that means that man is not going to make money off marijuana any more. He's going to be forced to sell harder drugs. That or get a job. You are putting more drugs on the street."

Pembroke MP Mr. DeVent is calling for a full-scale debate on Bermuda's drugs laws, and has said he would consider tabling a private members bill on the issue in the House of Assembly.

Some argue punishing drug abusers acts as a deterrent, but Mr. Gibbons said such a tactic has made no impact on the flow of substances onto the streets.

"Drugs are here. They are not going anywhere," he said. "As long as people need drugs, there's always going to be drugs.

"They could have clinics where you can go and get heroin, with clean needles. That will help with crime and help with addiction. If they have a clinic in Bermuda for guys addicted to heroin and coke, then these guys are not going to be going out stealing.

"That's also taking away guys being able to sell it for high prices, because the users can get it legally somewhere else. They are forced to get a job. What else can they do? They have got to take care of their families and bills."

Police have blamed Bermuda's gang warfare on personal rivalries, saying even if all drugs were removed from the Island the violence would continue.

However, Mr. Gibbons argued drugs and violence are intertwined, claiming to personally know some of the people who have been killed, and that they were involved in the drugs scene.

"I think drugs is what's feeding it. It's the underlayer to all the shootings," he said.

"I believe that drugs do have a lot to do with these shootings, but it also has a lot to do with respect, money, power and anger. They are the four things that are feeding this gun activity.

"When you look at a lot of shootings, where have they been? In drugs areas.

"When you really get to the core of it, it has everything to do with drugs, because drugs is what's feeding these guys' lifestyles. Through drugs is how they make money, how they get cars, jewellery, money to fly away."