Culture - Why tar heroin?

[bcubed]

Okay, I wanted to ask those who know a bit more about the US drug market a question about west-coast tar, because it makes no sense to me.

So, the US is split up, with (Columbian) powder H on the east, and (Mexican) tar H on the west. I suppose the split is due to an agreement, to concentrate on making money, not spending needless money and lives fighting over turf...makes sense.

BUT, my understanding is that 1. tar sells at a price disadvantage when compared to equipotent powder 2. tar (despite apparently being hell on one's veins) is more frequently shot than sniffed, meaning it is being used in a less wasteful manner (and, for a dealer, waste is good, right)?

Thus, if the Mexicans took the trouble to further process, they'd most likely be selling more dope at higher prices...so what's the deal? The only comments I've seen thusly amounted to ethnic slurs regarding intelligence, but--factual inaccuracy notwithstanding--even dumb people know money's a good thing, so I don't understand why the market works this way.