35 years after Nixon started the war on drugs, there are over one million non-violent drug offenders living behind bars.
The War on Drugs has become the longest and one of the most costly wars in American history. Inspired by the death of four family members from "legal drugs," Texas filmmaker Kevin Booth sets out to discover why the Drug War has failed. Three and a half years in the making, the film follows gang members, former DEA agents, CIA officers, narcotics officers, judges, politicians, prisoners and celebrities. There is also extensive treatment of CIA and Contras cocaine trafficking in the US. Most notably the film befriends Freeway Ricky Ross, described by a Los Angeles Times reporter as the "Wal-Mart of crack dealing." After being arrested, Ross discovered through the work of journalist Gary Webb that his cocaine source had been working for the CIA.
Awards
* 2007 Artivist Film Festival, Best Feature, Intl. Human Rights
* 2007 Silver Lake Film Festival, Best Documentary
* 2007 DIY Film Fest, Best Documentary
* 2006 Evil City, Best Documentary