Drugs

Drugs are a persistent theme in the novel. Theo is a long-time drug addict. He grows his own marijuana in his garden in his back yard to maintain his daily habit. The Sheriff uses this weakness to gain control over Theo. He agrees to keep Theo's drug use a secret, or at least keep him from being prosecuted for it, but he has expectations from Theo in return. Theo has to end his habit in order to confront the Sheriff. The irony is that the Sheriff's crime is also drug-related, although there is no indication in the novel that the Sheriff uses the drugs he is manufacturing. He is just using the business to get rich. Theo's drug use is well-known throughout Pine Cove as the other characters respond to him, sometimes with sympathy, as in Robert Masterson offering to help him get through any withdrawals. Other characters...