Kevin Booth Blog Feed

George Lucas won't watch my film

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 11:18:22 -0500

http://forums.sacredcowproductions.com/index.php?act=Attach&type=post&id=508

With all the high budget special effects in American Drug War you would think Lucas could learn something from watching it. And to think I sat through "More American Graffiti" for nothing.

Today I know the true meaning of rejection

Emails from SHOWTIME screening

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 17:19:24 -0500

Greetings,

I just caught your doc on Showtime, and even tried (I'm abroad and couldn't) to email them to ask them to air it again!
I moved out of the US 7+ yrs ago in part because of GW Bush. I thought Nixon and Ray-gum were idiots. Smoked pot for years and did �other things� but stopped smoking in 1990 (I�m 48). Anyway I wanted you to know how absolutely right on your doc is, and wish it was required viewing for all Americans and Europeans along w the rest of the world esp. government leaders. Of course people laugh at me because I live in one of the best ganja producing countries in the world and don�t smoke any more! But the coke biz has done terrible things to Jamaica. And some very peowerful people (as your doc suggests across the board) seem to be the continuing beneficiaries. Although we after 18 years have had a change of admin and this one seems less corrupt.

Anyway, I could say much more especially about the corporate money machine and conspiracies for truly world economic and resource domination (which will be lost read China), but for now BRAVO on the truth of your doc. Someday humanity will look back and call THIS the dark ages, for �our� wars and for �our� persecution of weed and other natural �drugs�.

One love

Ellie

Dear Kevin,

I work for an organization in Colorado called the Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition (www.ccjrc.org)and I want to thank you for making this movie. I wanted to add the trailer to my blog and ask you what the next steps were, if you know, in regards to follow up activist movements. I'd like to see if we can be involved.

We are closely affiliated with SAFER Colorado and the Drug Policy Alliance as well as Sensible Colorado. Let me know if there is anything I can do to publicize this phenomenal work of political art.

Thanks again

Pam

Hello, my name is Michael J. Leonick and I just watched your movie American Drug War. I was highly impressed with your clear and thought out points that you discussed. I am writing you because I found that we have a lot in common. My father recently died of lung cancer and my older brother pretty much died from alcoholism. I have taken a lot of classes on sociology and I just wanted to share the fact that many of my professors and myself agree with your assessment of the drug war and I really hope you continue to bring to light all of the hypocrisies that are so evident in our political system. I will keep this short but again thank you for your wonderful movie I will recommend it to all my friends.

Michael

I am a retired Parole Agent with the California Department of Corrections (2001). I am also a retired Probation Officer with the Ventura County Corrections Services Agency (1998). I have just finished viewing your documentary on Showtime and felt obliged to write and congratulate you on your insightful, honest and courageous film which pegged the hypocrisy, futility and self serving character of the present "war on drugs" in a way that should grab the attention of the most cynical viewer. If there is anything I can ever do, to assist you in future like pursuits, please feel free to contact me.

Best Regards,

Steve

I just watched american drug war and was amazed till the end, I run a drug treatment clinic and was curious where I could purchase a copy of this documentry. Thank you

Mr Booth,

I just caught your drug war special on the small dish. I am a hippy from the 60's and while watching your film I thought to myself I could have written it well most of it. Your film wil make another dent in the corporate controlled money laundering goverment we are supporting. They are getting very heavy. What do you think about Obama? We can take this country back with the power of the internet!

Anything I can do?

Fred

Kevin, Thank you for doing the drug film. How old will I be when pot is legal? I'm fifty-six and thought, when I was in my early twenties, that pot would surely be legal by the time I was thirty. Ha!! We are so entrenched in the narcojusticecomplex that we will never get out of it without some

Kevin,

I just finished watching your two hour documentary on showtime. Great work my friend! I have pasted a link to a question someone asked a little over a year ago(02/16/07) on "Yahoo! Answers". This person asked "If marijuana is not really harmful, then why is it illegal". My response was chosen as the best answer for this question. When I saw your documentary tonight mentioning many if not all of the same reasons that I included in my answer on Yahoo!, I felt great joy in knowing these truth's are finally being publicized. Never give up!

TB

I just watched your doc and thought it was very good. I did a doc on some of the biggest "KingPins" in American history. I have 13 crazy stories, the first one is done. Did your doc get picked up at a film festival? Check out the trailer and contact me if interested in talking.

Thanks,
Jason brooks

Thank you.....You educated me, my family and friends. I can not thank the Sacred Cow Productions team enough. Your film is very powerful and very well done. I thank you profusely for your time and effort in creating this film.

I've never thanked anyone for a film but you have created something special and capturing.

Thank you Mr. Kevin Booth

-Will

Hi Kevin,

My name is Erin. I just finished watching American Drug War on Showtime. You did a great job! It was very interesting and informative. I was hoping that you could elaborate on a small part of the film. In one part you mentioned that you became addicted to pain pills. You stated that you couldn�t afford rehab. While searching the internet, you said you came across a new treatment that breaks addiction to opium. However, that seemed to be the end of the subject.

Please, I need you to share what you found with me. My sister-in-law�s narcotic addiction is tearing apart my brother�s family (and making us fear for my 4 year old nephew�s safety and well-being). She already tried a private rehab center about a year ago, but obviously it didn�t work. Can you please share with me the treatment that you found on the internet, the treatment that worked for you? I need your help, fast. Their marriage is in immediate danger.

Thank you so much for sharing your time, your story and your experienced-knowledge,

Erin

Hey Kevin!

Amazing! I just turned it on by accident on Showtime and am enthralled. Great movie!

Thanks!

Pamela

Hi Kevin�..

I am interested in obtaining a copy of your documentary��American Drug War: the Last great white Hope.

Can you tell me how much and for s/h and I will mail you a money order straight away.

Sincerely
kathy

Just wanted to let you know that I really loved your documentary. I thought it was well thought out and really well done. Keep it up. We need filmmakers to help sort the truth out of the lies and we need truth to come from our media.

Thank you,
Kelly

just saw your documentary on Showtime last night when i got home from work. thought it was great. really well done. congrats

Kevin,

EXCELLENT EXCELLENT DOCUMENTARY!!!!! I applaud you bringing the truth to the masses( or sheeple as I call them). Thank you so much for bringing to light the hypocrisy of the "war on drugs".The segment you did on the opium trade in Afghanistan was what I have been preaching to others. Who would believe that strict Muslim fundamentalists would be using drugs to empower themselves. They are totally against drugs and its evils. Hopefully now in this election year people will wake up and make a change( even though we all know that the elections are rigged and the shadow government will never be displaced). I am an ex felon who served time in the Feds, 37 months, for a drug conviction. Under the mandatory minimum sentencing guidelines I had to plead guilty in order to receive the 37 months rather than the 57-71 months I was facing according to the guidelines. I take full responsibility for my actions but punishments should fit the crime. For 2 ounces of crystal meth I think my sentence was harsh. Please continue to enlighten the public of how our government and the special interest groups are making tons of money by warehousing our citizens. I have seen this first hand. Unicor is making millions by using prison labor, paying $0.12 cents an hour for the labor. There is one thing I was hoping you may know the answer to and that is when I was locked down I heard that Barbara Bush's family owns the company that supplies all the commissaries in the BOP with the items sold to inmates.True? Once again keep bringing the truth to the light and hopefully one day a true change will come.

Richard

First off, I want to thank you for having the guts to make this film.

The true honesty, and factual information had me glued to the television.

I've always wondered how those washington guys always managed to stay

out of jail in the 80's,and never be held responsible for their horrific deeds to mankind.

Your film was educational as well,serving as a great learning tool for our youth.

Thank you Kevin,for opening up the minds and hearts of all americans with your film.

Derek

Kevin �

I just watched American Drug War on Showtime and have to say it was fantastic! My name is Ryan Tuchman � Producer at I-Productions Inc. I am in post on a doc of my own that would be of great interest to you. It touches upon the Drug War but focuses on the concept of �Harm Reduction�. I am sure you are aware of this after shooting your doc. I come from the scripted feature background but stumbled upon this story and had to jump on it. I am really lacking the distribution contacts for documentaries and was wondering if it is possible to get you on board to assist as a producer if you like my film. Hope to hear from you. Once again, I loved the documentary. After going through my shoot and meeting similar people I can really appreciate what you accomplished.

Regards,

Ryan

Hello Kevin,

I am watching your film on Showtime as we speak and I wanted to contact you.

I teach sociology at UCSB and this is a great teaching tool. It is very well done, accessible and engaging and I think it will be for my students.

I just wanted to thank you for making such a necessary movie. I have gone to Sacred cow to obtain a copy and look forward to using it.

Thanks again,
--
Nathaniel

That was one of the best specials not only on drugs but of any documentary I have ever seen. As a former cop in the military and now a user of marijuana and other substances from my past, I have lived on both sides of the fence. Thank you for this entertaining and informative piece. My condolences for all your losses.

Chuck
Ft. Lauderdale

Kevin,

I doubt you'll even receive this message, but hopefully someone does...who cares.

I watched your documentary last night on Showtime and I have to commend you on such a brilliant, honest piece. It was both a breath of fresh air and a great disappointment for me to be watching it. You portrayed, in my opionion, a very honest and accurate view on this crazy "War on Drugs" that our country is faced with. I pray that it opens the eyes and mind of at least ONE single ignorant American trapped in the lies our government feeds us.

It was a breath of fresh air to me because I am one of those junkies who is caught up in the system. Between probation, incarceration, and long term-forced treatment I've been labeled as a felon, a junkie, and not a member of society. Yes, I have convictions for the possession of controlled dangerous substances, but I'm not violent and I don't steal and i don't sell drugs. I'm someone who works hard, and likes to play hard. I'm forced to attend treatment, go to court every week, report to a po every day and visit once a
week,and go to na or aa meetings because the government tells me I am wrong and the government tells me this is what I have to do. If I don't, I go to jail. It's a wonderful program known as Drug Court located here in Ocean County, NJ.

It was also very disappointing to watch because I truly feel like such a
victim to our society. I feel like my freedom and my rights were taken from me because of things I chose to do behind close doors. Unfortunately I have to buy their drugs on their market and deal with their police and courts, and pay their consequences. I just have such a feeling of unrest about the whole situation. I feel so disconnected from our country because of it. I can't get a job because I'm a felon now, even though I'm bright and skilled. Anyway, I
won't rant anymore. I just want to thank you for what you did. It really kind of lifted a little weight off my shoulders because I know I'm not alone. Please keep spreading your message. I am fully aware that drugs can be bad and they can ruin peoples lives, but treatment should be up to that person, and should be treated as a medical problem, not forced incarceration... I just lost a friend last week to an overdose. Perhaps another live LOST because of
the war and lack of knowing what you're truly getting...

Take care, and if it matters, your documentary definitely made a difference in my life. Keep doing what you're doing, that way there's a small glimmer of hope for some of us.

-jason

I don't know if I am more depressed or more hopeful; after watching your film on Showtime this evening. I do know I am thankful that it is out there.
Jeff Hartzer

---
Jeff

Kevin, I just watched your American Drug War documentary for the 2nd time. My husband watched too. We have a vested interest in this topic because we are the parents of 24 year old twin heroin addicts. I could write a book, that's no joke, if interested in my story please contact me.

Sharon

Hi Kevin,

Just caught your film tonight on Showtime and found it quite disturbing yet I'm thrilled by your efforts to open up a conversation about government's social-economic impact on our country.

I am especially interested in those Iran-Contra folks near the end of the film who hold positions in government today. Sadly, the only one I recall and immedialtely recognize is Mr .Gates. My political forum friends and I have the attention span of a 2-year old so it would be a good history lesson for us to google all these guys and re-visit their outstanding contributions to America. Hopefully we can find one.

Keep up the good work and if you're ever interested in my perspective on the wacky child adoption craze going on in our great land, please let me know.

Regards,

Randy

That is SO GREAT! Congrats Kevin!! I knew this woudl be going FAR the first time I saw it!! I am a HUGE supporter of your film!!
When will it air on Show time in total?

Hope all is great with you!!

Peace and Love

Holly

Dear Mr. Kevin Booth,

Thank you for your hard work, dedication, for putting your-self in harms way, and your compasion to tell a story long over due. There are thousands of people worse off than me with addiction, poverty, AIDS and Cancer, but as a human living with a cronic illness, Crohn's Disease, who is helped tremendously by canibus for pain and mental anquish, I can't thank you enough for sticking your neck out on the line for us all.

Will you be offering this on DVD for purchase in the near future. Everyone I know needs to see this film... sorry, everyone in this country needs to see this film. I pray some day we will be able to have real change. You are a huge step in making that happen, if it can happen.

Sincerely,
Spencer

This was definitely the best documentary I have ever watched. I couldn't take my eyes off it. Being only 19 years old, I have been asking myself since I was 15 when I started using pot. I've smoked pot since I was 15 years old. I got in trouble with alcohol when I was 18 and thats the only trouble that has been thrown my way is because of the "legal" drug. Why is alcohol legal and causing so many death's from drinking and driving, to natural deaths from alcohol. I know this was all covered in your documentary but there are so many points about this corrupt government that I didn't know until watching. Thank you so much for filling me in on the actual games and hate the government actually have against its citizens, if thats what we are actually called.

Kevin,

I just want to say that I just caught your movie, "American Drug War" and I find it to be one of the best drug documentaries I have ever seen. I think you showed a clear picture of that world. I extremely enjoyed the fact that you mentioned Iran Contra Affair. I know from talking to the youth today, that even in school, it is not taught anymore. I was lucky to be 15 at the time this was going on and had a very progressive teacher teach us what was going on at that time. Thank you so much for that film and I am sure your friend Bill would be very proud of you as I am for your truth. Thanks

Jason

Mr. Booth

Your documentary touched me deeply. I lost my grandfather to alcohol in 1990 and then My father in '99. I myself have battled drug addiction. Perhaps more accurately stated, I battle drug addiction every day. I smoked my first joint at 12 and became an avid smoker at about 16. Now I refuse to accept that Marijuana is a gateway drug, but the realization that I was bombarded with propaganda did inspire me to "experiment" with other drugs. I have been addicted to cocaine, and methamphetamine. I will not lie to you, I had a lot of fun on drugs. I still smoke pot regularly, and I do occasionally fall off the speed-free wagon. I have never believed that legalization of drugs is a solution, but a real restructuring of our drug policy is a must. Decriminalization is a fair start for some, but not all. Some drugs should not be available, but locking up the addicts just because they use is insanity. In short I want to say thank you.Thank you for having the guts to send this message in this day and age. Thank you for opening my eyes to some things I didn't know. Thank you for giving me not just one resource, but the launching pad to find so many more to help me share the truth with my staunch right wing family. If nothing else it will make for far more interesting arguments during holiday gatherings.

A freedom starved American
~Joe

Kevin I live in a small town in central Texas. I'am 53 years old and have been using Oxycontin for over 12 years. I did not know how addictive it really was until I tried to stop. I never had any trouble quiting the other pain killers. I have had 34 major operations , cancer , struck by lightning,bitten by a rattle snake, stabbed and shot. I did have chronic pain for a while. I tried to get the doctors to help me quit so I could see if I really still hurt that much. They always told me no that I needed to take it because with that many surgeries you have a lot of scar tissue and it causes pain.
I could not see how bad I was until my wife started to leave and I have spent all my money buy this drug. I could not work because all you think about is where will I find it and when can I get there. They had me taking Norco 10/325 for break through pain up to 10 a day. This did one thing and that was it kept me from going in to DT's. You will do almost anything to get this stuff. I have sold off everything of value and gone from a million dollars plus to 0.
What really makes me made is that they lied about how addictive it really is. The doctor told me it was better because I only had to take it 3 times a day instead of every 3 or 4 hours. They said it was long lasting and was not as addictive as the other drugs. I have had about every drug they make put in me during all these surgeries. I was in the hospital for about 14 days with my first cancer operation and they gave me morphine for 7 days in ICU . These were big doses and then they gave it to me on the floor for the remainder of my stay. I had no trouble getting off and have even used the duregesic patch. I think it is Fentynal or a stronger version of morphine.
I finally decided to get off so I went to a doctor that does addiction problems. He put me on Suboxone and that works great. I have been on it for about 12 months and it does help a little with pain. I still have days that my mind is telling me to take Oxycontin. They can't tell me how long this will last because they have never had anyone that has been using it for this long. I nearly got my gun and went looking for those guys when I heard they admitted they lied about how addictive Oxycontin really is. I have also heard from some drug reps that they also gave the doctors a 100 dollar kick back for each script they wrote. Where was our government when this drug got approved to use. They hve sold us down the tube and could care less about John Q Public. You will have the one agent or cop that wants to put a feather in his cap and he will bust people for sell. I could not believe how easy it was to buy on the streets. Then I started seeing two doctors getting it nad they still never came to see why I was getting so much. I really think someone got a big pay off to look the other way.
I did find out about the victims fund and have been trying to find out what they will pay. I still don't know how that will work and I found out that the state of Texas got 500,000.00 I wondered what for. I called the attorney generals office and ask who was addicted to it. They told me that this is to stop the illegal sale in the state. Well they still seel it and you can still buy it on the corner. I really think it is a good pill but it needs to be for people that will die in a few years. The really bad part is I have not needed anything for pain. Yes I hurt but I can handle it and work. I could not work for anyone when I was on it because if something happened they would have to pay. I agree that would be like hiring a drunk to be a truck driver. You know he will have a wreck you just don't know when.
We have a real problem and I don't think anyone cares. They want to build more jails and put people in prision. This is not the answer. My son was on Meth for a couple of years and he had no problem quiting when he wanted. He told me he was ready to quit and he did. I have been writing the people in Washington about the oxycontin lies to try to get them to check it out but there aren't any football or baseball heroes using. If it is not some big shot like Lance Armstrong they don't want to look at it. I was really mad when I went back to my pain doctor and told him I was on Suboxone. They have had it for 3 years but they don't like the side effects so they don't tell people about it. They said it makes some people have a headache and sick at your stomach for a while. I told them that probably every person they have on Oxycontin is addicted and they said they did not think so. I also told them I had people from their office try to sell me their pills and they did not believe me.
I don't know how to get it done but I want to sue the pants off the Oxycontin people. They said three doctors made it and I wonder how they would feel if their family members were hooked. They probably wouldn't care as long as they made a lot of money. I seperated my righyt shoulder about a month ago and it has been hurting bad. I had some old Norco and I took 7 of them. I waited and it did nothing. When I went to the doctor they told me that I had burned out all my recptors and it would never work again. What will I do if something big really happens to me or I have to have this shoulder fixed.
Ok I will shut up I saw your show and need to vent. Hope you are and yours are well.

Mr. Booth:

A couple of nights ago I had an opportunity to watch your documentary with regards to America�s �War on Drugs� and although I had known (peripherally) about many of the claims made in your film, I really had not realized the extent of CIA and government complicity in this self made war.

Watching your film made me realize that right now, our government is likely involved in a similar situation as the Iran-Contra scandal of the 1980�s. As you may know, a couple of weeks ago a small province named Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia. This declaration was quickly recognized by several countries, including the United States and Afghanistan.

Prior to 1999, the CIA had classified a group known as the �KLA� (Kosovo Liberation Army), as a terrorist organization, but quietly removed them from the terror list, prior to a 78 day bombing campaign against Serbia. After that bombing campaign, the United Nations and NATO took control of Kosovo and the former terrorist organization was converted to the newly named �Kosovo Protection Corps�. While Kosovo has long been a center for the heroin drug trade in Europe, since 1999 it became the world epicenter for the heroin trade, all under the watchful eye of the United States and many European nations.

In March of 2000, Guardian reporter Maggie O�Kane reported that Kosovo had become the focal point of 40% of the world�s heroin traffic, most of which was headed to western Europe and America. In fact, Kosovo became known as a �smugglers paradise� and during the time it was a �UN Protectorate� it expanded as ground zero for heroin distribution. However, Kosovo still remained a part of Serbia, who�s government would not bend to the whim of the west and remained an obstacle to unfettered heroin trafficking.

As I watched your documentary, I started to see striking similarities between the scandals of the eighties with modern day Kosovo. The American government has been spoon feeding the mass media and general public grandiose statements of genocide and mass murder in Kosovo, none of which has ever been substantiated but has provided a great distraction for the reality on the ground. Moreover, while most international legal scholars agree upon the illegality of Kosovo�s unilateral declaration of independence, the government of the United States has accepted it as a fait accompli with virtually no tangible scrutiny or opposition at home. When was the last time you can recall both Republicans and Democrats agreeing on an issue with virtually NO dissent in Congress?

Along with the declaration came immediate recognition from Afghanistan, the world�s number one exporter of heroin. With the supplier firmly in American hands and under American control (Afghanistan), the missing link for complete American control was the middle man/distributor. By recognizing Kosovo�s independence America has virtually created a proxy government in Kosovo�s capital (Pristina), whose leader (Hashim Thaci) is an indicted war criminal. Who better to serve the interest of the drug runners than a man who has long standing ties to the KLA and organized crimes?

Ultimately, the point of this email is that you might consider what I have written here and contemplate a follow up documentary or some type of investigation. I�m sure at the beginning of the CIA drug running investigation, most would have thought CIA complicity impossible but now see the reality. I have no doubt that a similar investigation into Kosovo independence would yield similar results.

If you have any questions regarding this matter, please feel free to contact me at this email address. Thank you for your time.

Very truly yours,

Slavko

Hi Kevin,

Is there any way to purchase this film on DVD? I loved it, it show our governments true intentions.

Seth

I saw the premiere of American Drug War on Showtime Tuesday night and i wanted to thank you for opening my eyes. Since the making of the The Matrix I felt like that was what was going on with us as a society. It has motivated me to start speaking out about this. Thank you!

Hi Kevin,

I am the West Australian Publicist for FOXTEL and have had a request from TV journalist Pam Brown from The West Australian newspaper. Pam would like to chat to you about the upcoming Australian premiere of AMERICAN DRUG WAR.

Only catch is that Pam will need to speak to you either Thursday 6 March or Sunday 9 March (LA time ) this week in order to make her deadline ahead of the premiere.

Are you able to let me know if this is possible and what would work for you in terms of interview timings. Due to the time difference between LA and Perth, we are fairly limited. See below for options.

Apologies for the late notice and thank you in advance for your assistance. I look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards,
Emma

Kevin! My boyfriend and I just sat with our mouths open watching your fantastic doc! The best one I have ever seen on the subject. I couldn't believe when your name popped up at the end! I cheered! As I am a HUGE Bill Hicks fan. Congrats! You have done some fab work! Cheers from NYC to Austin!

Kristen

Finally got to see "American Drug War" on Showtime. Amazing work! The only thing I don't care for is the overwelming sense of helplessness.

Keep up the good work,
Scott Muri

I AM A RETIRED POLICE OFFICER WHO HAS BEN SAYING THIS FOR YEARS. EVERYONE THOUGHT I WAS A FANATIC. IT SAYS IN THE BIBLKE THAT GOD PLACE PLANTS ON THE EARTH TO HELP PEOPLE WITH PAIN. GOD , OBVIOUSLY MUST HAVE PLACED MARIJUANA AND OPIUM POPPIES HERE AS WELL AS MANY OTHERS.

THIS WAS WELL DONE AND NEEDS MUCH BROADER CIRCULATION. IT IS THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH. I AM SORRY TO SAY THAT I WAS UNAWARE OF THE POLITIC SIDE OF SOME OF IT AND I HAVE CHANGED THAT THIS VERY INSTANT! I AM NO LONGER A REPUBLICAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YOU AND MR BOOTH HAVE DONE A GREAT SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY, WHO ARE THE OWNERS OF IT AND NOT THESE ENTITIES. THE GOVERNMENT HAS NO RIGHT TELLING ANYONE WHAT THEY CAN INGEST!!!!!!

STEVE

THE TRUTH IS ALWAYS THE TRUTH!!!!!!!

Louisville, KY

I just finished watching the special on Showtime. There is a song which runs in the ending credits, and I couldn't catch who wrote it or what the song's title was. I featured some GW sound bytes. Any help locating the writer's name and song title would be greatly appreciated.

Let the guys at SacredCow know, that was top notch work. My friends and I have been taking a very proactive approach to this issue, and really appreciate, unbiased journalism on the matter.

Thanks in advance.

James

Kevin,

I just watched American Drug War on HBO, and it was absolutely amazing. It's glad to see that not everyone is blind! Thank you Mr. Booth! I'm not a religious person, but I truly believe you and your work are a gift from god. And thank everyone involved in this ingenius documentary. I wish every person in america could see this, and open their eyes to reality. Thanks times a million!

~Dante R.

Kevin,
Congratulations on the documentary, I saw it last night in Showtime by accident as I was browsing for something to watch. Great job! Exactly along the line where I believe the issue should be addressed, though everyone tells me it is an impossible political task to change the current drug prohibition paradigm. Getting to see Judge James P. Gray was great also, I read his book a while back, however, haven't been able to find an address where to send him a copy of my book A Silent Nightmare: The bottom line and the challenge of illicit drugs. I have your postal address and will be sending you a copy of my book this week, could you provide me a postal address for Judge Gray?
I have ordered three copies of the DVD, one for my personal use, one for the president of Mexico, I expect to meet with him in early May, and a third one as a reserve for the "right person" in the US government. The three leading US presidential candidates, Obama, Clinton and McCain, have acknowledged receipt to my book (their staff has over their signature) though I doubt if they have read it. I personally hand delivered it to the president of Mexico last May and had an hour long one on one meeting with him on the subject. He is in a tough spot, however, he was willing to share his personal insights with me. We have been friends for over twenty years.
I am attaching a pdf copy of my book, however, you will be getting a printed copy soon. If you are ever in the Washington, DC area in the near future I would love the opportunity to meet with you personally.
Good luck with the documentary.
Sergio Ferragut

Hey, Kevin. I just got finished watching your documentary on Showtime. I'm just emailing to let you know that I am truly inspired by this. It has completely changed the way that I look at my drug use, and the drug use of others. You have opened up a whole new way of thinking for me, and I just wanted to let you know how much I truly appreciate it.

Thank you,

Adam

Thank you for making this documentary, I am going to tell everyone I know about it. America needs to see this. You are helping us make the first steps towards a desperatley needed change. I just recently was pulled over for illegal window tinting, in charlotte, North Carolina. The officer searched my vehicle and found about a gram of marijuana, a glass bowl, and a grinder. Thankfully, in North Carolina, marijuana is not a schedule I drug like it is federally, it classified schedule 6. I recieved three citations and was required to take 15 hours of class in a court appointed drug education class (which cost me $150). Although I am very happy that I was not arrested, I found that my punishment in the long run was financial (about $700 in the end). Out of the 15 hours of class, about 1 hour was dedicated to marijuana, 1 hour was dedicated to alcohol and the other classes covered inhalents,tobbacco, cocaine, heroine, steroids, pcp, and a whole 4 hours on STD's (with a very graphic and unnecisarry video). The only people elligable for this drug ed. class are those who were caught with marijuana under a half ounce, underaged drinking, or DWI's. There was at least 40 people in each of my classes, thats a lot of money going. . . somewhere. Anyways, your movie helped me realize that there is hope for a better system and that we are the ones to bring it to the light.
Peace, Love, & Respect
-Stephen

Dear Mr. Booth,

I caught your documentary, AMERICAN DRUG WAR, on Showtime last week and wanted to congratulate you on your accomplishment.

I found your film of particular interest, because of it's correlations with a film I just finished focusing on one man's drug-laden experience in Afghanistan over the past 40 years. Beginning with Afghanistan as a stop on the Hash Trail in 1967, we follow the history of drug-use in Afghanistan culminating in an interview with an opium grower in 2002.

I am curious if you would have any suggestions in finding the proper distribution for a film like mine in the United States.

You can take a look at our trailer here: http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=26374129

If you're interested in seeing the full film, please let me know.

Thanks for any thoughts you may have.

Sincerely,
Tonya

congrats! i am so happy that this film got into some
light like this. when i saw it at slff i hoped that
everyone would have a chance to see it and now a big
chunk can!

Hugs Valerie

It was pure greatness. It�s too bad America is full of people like our parents who have never smoked marijuana, and who refuse to question why a law is a law. We need more documentaries like yours to at least attempt to bring light to the fact that the drug war is a sham. Good work.

Cole

Hi Kevin,
My name is Will Ackerman, and I produce a weekly show for local access that focuses on the war on drugs. My question for you is; are you granting permission to people like myself to air your program locally on TV. Please share your thoughts. Thank you for your time.

Kevin, I have just watched your movie for the first time, and I must say I am truly touched. I want to support this film and movement in anyway possible.

I am the singer in a very successful truly independent american reggae band that tours nationally and internationally with steel pulse, the wailers, clutch and many more pro-marijauna bands. We are very excited to spread the word in any way we can, and kudos for such a powerful film.

We just returned from kinsgston jamaica making a record consisting of very similar themes to the movie.

Let me know how lionize can become a more active supporter of your film.
-nate

Hi Kevin,

My name is Paul Glaser. I live in Los Angeles. I've lived here since I graduated from UNC 5 years ago.

A few years ago, I had the experience of dealing with the law over a marijuana offense (.08 gms or something infinitesimally small) and I was lucky to live in California.

Anyways, I've attached the essay I had to write as part of my plea agreement.

If you are still active in working on reversing the insane drug policies our government promulgates and need any help with the written word, I would love to offer my assistance to the cause.

Thanks for a great documentary. Hope you are well.

Sincerely,

Paul
Kevin, Hey how are you, Im Jose

Im an International Relations Major here in Miami Florida, I saw clips of your movie and an intreview on google by Alex Jones with you.

I am writing a 35 page paper on the Iran-Contra Affair and found your documentary extremely interesting and heard about your sequel about the CIA..

Well, I was wondering about some sources you got from the first documentary about the operatives of the CIA Oliver North and central America.. Contact me and stay in touch

Sincereley,
Jose

Hey kevin, I saw your documentary today and I thought it was amazing. I was just curious though, who wrote that one book thought connected Ricky Ross to the CIA? I am really interested in reading it, but i cannot remember who wrote it.
thanks!
Haylei

I watched the documentary on showtime on demand, after seeing it i quickly called everyone that i know advising them to watch it as well, i am willing to do whatever in order to help this movement.... this show needs to be on regular channels everywhere..

Mr. Booth,

This weekend I was fortunate enough to see your film, "American Drug War", on the Showtime network.

It was, in a word, fantastic. I felt compelled to write to you, and express my admiration for your effort. I have always been skeptical of the efficacy of our "War on Drugs" , and your film did a superb job of spelling out the hypocrisy of the effort.

Thank you for making it.

Sincerely, Brian Baker

Let me first off ad say thank you for taking the time and producing a realistic documentery about what is really going on around this forsaken country, Its just another coruption to add to the long list of this countries history.

Ill tell you now that ive shown this video to over 50 people and the same remake is made....
" HOLY SHIT" and "FUCK OUR GOVERNMENT"

But im glad to see more and more is being contributed to the up and coming revolution that will soon open the mankinds eyes in this disgusting political power to control us like sheep.

thanks again mate,.

cheers,
Jonathan

Just saw your movie and it was fantastic! Thanks for making me take a good hard look at the people running our country, and myself for believing the garbage shoved down my throat for years.

Milton

Kevin,

I just watched "American Drug War" on Showtime... awesome documentary! Congratulations. I think you did an amazing job demonstrating the corporate money and politics behind the epidemic in this country - the "war" on drugs is not working. Thanks for putting the film together. You did an incredible job!

I am a history professor at Texas Lutheran University in Seguin, Texas - just about 40 minutes SE of Austin. I would be absolutely thrilled to have you on campus some time for a showing of the film (if possible) - I don't know how that would work since the film has been released? Anyway, if you could let me know your availability I would really appreciate it. Our student body is a bit conservative - they could use a good dose of reality.

Sincerely,
Rebecca

Good day Kevin,

I was traveling abroad and caught most of your movie on American drug war...I must say I was very interested...unfortunately I can't find it anywhere in Canada...I would love to see the entire film...can you let me know if and where it's available in Canada.

Much appreciated,
Mylene

Great film, I see Dark Alliance as the book of the century and your film should be film of the century. Please advise when your film will be offered for purchase.
Loved the work. Keep it up.

***Lose not courage, lose not faith, go forward. Marcus Garvey ***

Kevin, Great documentary!
I am a alcohol and drug counselor.
Your movie put together nearly everything I have been saying about the phony War on Drugs in America for too many years now.

I have adopted a socio-cultural understanding of drug use and cure, which you reference at the end of your documentary.

The two largest Federally licensed churches in Brazil, the Santo Daime and the UDV have proven oven many years
that ayahuasca tea successfully treats addiction.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UDV
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santo_daime

Ketamine successfully treats addiction in Russia.
http://www.maps.org/research/ketamine/ketrussia.html

Dr Deborah Mash and many other respected scientists have researched the successful use of extracts of the Africa herb
Tabernanthe iboga in treating addiction.
http://www.ibogaine.org/lit-ibogaine.html

To add further insult to injury, I had read many years ago that noscapine has successfully treated all hard tumors it has been tested on since the 1960's.
Noscapine is a natural compound found in opium poppy.
http://www.news-medical.net/?id=21951

500,000 die every year of cancer in the USA.
How many must die before we admit a positive use for the opium poppy?

More insanity: Dogs can smell developing cancer on humans before ANY man made diagnostic can!
Dogs are another natural cure out society refuses to use to save lives of 500,000 Americans,
because it does not fit our "business model"
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/5...man_cancer.html

Take care, Joe

I had to commend you on your wonderful film. I was in an auto accident and have been in extreme pain from injuries for 11 years now. The drs have recently put me on daily meds of OxyContin & Dilaudid. Have decided to stop them because I hate taking these since I also have Hep-c from blood transfusions. My therapist has now recommended Seboxone treatment. I saw it mentioned in your film.....I am afraid this will cause a new addiction. Any new info....again Congratulations on your most informative film.

diana

The best documentary of all time, I've have been telling everybody I know that this is a must see, and how blown away they will be once they see this dvd.
Great job. Nothing but the truth. Matt

Hey I think you and I grew up really close time together.
Mom & Dad or it was Lorene & Tommie had a Stillborn, then a set of Twin's Billy & Bobby witch lived a couple days and Passed I am told witch I will always think Smoking had somthing to do about it.
Then I was the last hope an I was born 5-8-1960 Mother's Day No Shit !!!
Yea if ya want, I'm here.

Kenny �Black Dog�

Your film is truly a masterpiece. Thanks for believing in my ability to take the message to the streets. It was and will continue to be an honor.

Stan

Kevin:
I believe every word you spoke in this film. It all makes perfect sense. The drugs that are �legal� are so dangerous compared to what nature offers. Pharmaceutical companies are constantly trying to mimic nature, when nature lies at our feet. I have also had many deaths in my family at the hand of �legal� drugs. History tells us repeatedly it�s always about power and money.
When we imprison non-violent drug offenders we turn them into violent offenders. From what I�ve seen prison, is a fight or die situation.
I am disgusted with the monster we call our prison system. The prisons are full and the streets are more dangerous than ever. How does that make an ounce of sense?
None of our drug policies make an ounce of sense unless you follow the money!
Great film and moving documentary. You more than support you suppositions! I�m telling everyone I know about your film.
Where do I sign up?

Pamela

I watched It last night!!! I LOVED it. Why is this not showing in major theaters? Do you realize if you marketed this right, nation wide you could blow the lid off this!!! This blows Michael Moore out of the water!!! You need to get this to Obama.... How Can we get it in major theaters???? I can sell ice to an Eskimo let me know how I can help.

Great Job and thank you,

Dariusz Koltuniak

Great Documentary...I am watching it again to take notes...You really spelled this out in the most concise way. So many things have come full circle for me...You rounded off so many things for me...Do you still have distribution via Ryko? I would love to distribute your productions and I would love to make the Freeway Rick movie when he gets out 2012....Regardless, This is brilliant...I am watching this for the second time so I can spread the word in the proper way....Have you seen the Corporation? That is a brilliant doc too...This ADW is now one of my fav's....Thanks

Don

Kevin

I am 42 years old and sat and watched the American Drug War documentary with my 72 year old mother. When the sheriff in Arizona was saying you have to step over bodies in Amsterdam, all my mother kept saying is "That is bullshit. Complete bullshit. I have been to Amsterdam and it's a beautiful place, with low crime rate and friendly people." She told me she was going to bring home some "special lollipops" from, but was afraid Customs would search her luggage.

My father has been battling severe alcoholism since 2000 and has been hospitalized several times in the past 8 years. He almost died the first time he went through detox in the hospital. He had renal failure, etc. He spent 30 days there and had to learn how to feed himself, walk and talk all over again. He is also 72 years old. I keep telling him if he wants to relax he should smoke a joint. You can imagine his reaction to that comment. He has been sober now for 2 months, but has end stage liver disease. His doctor told him the next drink he takes could kill him. I know you can appreciate the frustration and pain of watching someone suffer from that disease. The first time he detoxed, I couldn't believe my eyes. It was the saddest thing I have ever watched! The doctor said alcohol withdrawal can be worse than heroin withdrawal.

I have done my fair share of recreational drugs and never experienced any of the health problems that my father suffers. All my friends smoke pot. They range from doctors and lawyers to "blue collar" workers. None of them ever went through the detox process for smoking; and they have been smoking for 20-30 years. All are respectable people, with families, jobs, and homes. They pay their taxes and go to work every day. On the flip side, I also have some friends with severe back problems. They became addicted to Oxycontin and other pain pills prescribed by their physicians. Unfortunately, a few of them became addicted to heroin when their doctors suddenly stopped their pain medications.

Like many big corporations, the company I work for conducts random drug testing. I am COMPLETELY against that. If someone smokes a joint after work or on the weekends that is their business. It isn't going to affect their performance the next day at work. I firmly believe that what people do in their own homes is their business. NOT THE GOVERNMENT!!! As long as they are not putting anyone else in jeopardy or committing violent acts, there is "no harm, no foul." Next the government will want to come into our bedrooms. In some states they already do by outlawing sodomy.

It's an atrocity what the people with power and money do. And millions put their trust in them.

I want to thank you for taking the time to bring this abuse of power to light. If there is anything I can do to help further the cause, please let me know.

God Bless and Take Care.

Sharon

p.s. I wouldn't be surprised if "Big Brother" is monitoring the e-mails you receive.

I just saw your fantastic documentary on Showtime in my hotel room. As a closeted gay man who was raised naive' and Republican, after seeing your amazing documentary I now have one more reason to move to Amsterdam besides the 16-year old boys.

Greg

I just watched your documentary "American Drug War: The Last White Hope". I enjoyed it and agree with points made about legalization and decriminalization of the drugs in the USA, and that The Drug War has been an abject failure from the start. One quip, though. Near the end you show Gen. Michael Hayden's picture with the caption:

Iran-Contra Head of NSA
G.W. Bush / Director of CIA

To me this is saying that Gen. Hayden was the NSA Director during the Iran Contra scandal, but this is incorrect. His tenure as director there was from 1999 to 2005. Maybe I'm reading your caption incorrectly, but even if that is the case, I think it's a mistake that many others will make. For the sake of keeping your vital message untainted by needless errors, this should be reviewed and corrected to accurately reflect the role Gen. Hayden may or may not have had in the Iran Contra affair along with his positions at the top of this country's intelligence community.

Thanks for your time.

Brian

Hi Kevin,

My name is Yuriy Yarovoy. I am a student at West Chester University studying history with a minor in political science. This isn't fan mail or blind admiration though I do believe your documentary was quite sobering. My question to you is if there is a transcript of your documentary available anywhere? I am a junior and I have begun to discuss my graduation project with my advisers. I plan on writing a research paper detailing the Nixon/Reagan/Bush war on terror and drugs and the almost identical paradigms employed in their execution. Starting with Nixon's war profiteering in Vietnam and false-flag Gulf of Tonkin operation to the Reagan and Bush media blitz about the war on drugs which, as your documentary so eloquently showed, is nothing more than a profiteering scheme for Corporations and stockholders. And finally leading to the current media blitz regarding the war on terror and how blindly the American people buy into the hype or al-queda and global terrorism when in fact we Americans are terrorizing the world not vice-versa. Any advice you have is always welcome. I know you have absolutely no incentive to reply, but I would hope you of all people would understand my stance and goal of documenting the loss of the American way and American Dream.

Sincerely,
Yuriy

Hey Kevin,

So I saw your movie a couple weeks ago via bit torrent, I'm sorry its up there already (noticed said for people to wait on that) but after watching it I pre-ordered a copy for myself.
However I was recently watching Season 2 of Penn & Teller's show "Bull Shit" and they had their so called "hippie segment" as described the bull shit of the war of on drugs. Throughout watching the episode (ep.4) I noticed some similarities in the people interviewed and information exposed and I was wondering if you have seen the episode or it influenced the movie at all (or visa versa if they received information from you)

Just curious about this, and it was a delightful surprise when pre-ordering the DVD to see all of the Bill Hicks content available on your site.
Thanks again.

- TheZeroYear

I RECIEVED UR E-MAIL ABOUT THE" AGW" MOVEMENT. i AM IN FUL SUPPORT ,

BACK IN JUNE 25TH OF 07 I BROKE MY RIGHT HEEL WHILE AT WORK,

tHANKFULLY I PASSED MY URINE SCREEN FOR WORKMANS COMP, BUT DEALING WITH THEM IS A WHOLE NEW TOPIC, SO I GOT A LAWYER FOR THAT!

ANYHOW. i WAS PRESCRIBED 1200 PERCOCETS IN A 6 MONTH PERIOD ALL TOGETHER, I COULD NOT "WEIGHT BEARING" FOR 5 MONTHS , I WAS ON CRUTHES. I TAUGHT MY SELF HOW 2 WALK AGAIN SLOWLY DUE TO WORK COMP BEING SLOW AND NOT GETTING ME INTO A CORRECT PHYSIACL THEREAPY.

NOW MY DOC WANTS ME TO GO TO PAIN MANAGEMENT AND I HEARD THEY WANT ME TO TAKE METHODONE, BUT I REFUSE TO WHICH I TOLD MY DOCTOR: DUE TO PEOPLE I KNOW WHO ARE ON IT, AS WELL AS A DOCUMENTARY ON IT FROM "hbo" ....

SO NOW I HAVE TO WAIT FOR MY SURGERY UNTIL 1 YEAR FROM DATE OF INJURY WHO KNOWS WHY EXACTLY............ BUT IM IN CHRONIC PAIN AND AM HOOKED ON PAIN PILLS BUT AS WELL I NEED THEM FOR MY FOOT, ANKLE AND LEGS. BUT CANT GET ANY PRESCRIBED FROM MY DOCTOR BECAUSE HE SAID AFTER SO LONG HE CANT WRITE THEM FOR ME. SO I MUST FIND ON MY OWN, U KNOW!

SO I FINALLY BROKE DOWN AND CALLED THE PAIN MANAGEMENT AND I CANT GET IN UNTILL THE END OF APRIL.

EVERYTHING IN THE DOCUMENTARY THAT U MADE I CAN RELATE TOO. I APPREICATE SOMEONE TAKING THE TIME AND EFFORT TO STAND UP FOR OUR RIGHTS. THANK YOU AND I AM TRYING TO PROMOTE IT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

SINCERLEY, NICK

I ALSO SENT U INFO ON O'BAMA... LOOK INTO THAT!!!!!!

I had a family member that died of bone cancer in the 1971. My great aunt had suffered from the chemo and only smoking would get her feeling better. They sent her home from MD Anderson with a shoe box full of marajuana and I helped her role the whole box. I was 17 years old and had never smoked. I saw what a great job it did for her. I had testicular cancer in 1988 that had spread. They did a couple of surgeries then gave me chemo. The first thing I ask was are you going to let me smoke for the sickness. They told me they had a pill form that was better. So this tells me they know that it does help cancer sufferers. Yes our government is out of hand but a few people cannot take it back. If you try you will need a lot of funding. This is the name of the game. It seems if you want something done you have to pad some pockets. The best we can hope far is far some official gets sick and uses. If theyknew how well it works they might change their mind.
I was depending on our government and doctors to protect me. It only made my problem bigger. Every doctor I saw wanted me to keep using these drugs. They said I had to many problems and needed them. I have been off for almost a year and have been using asprin. Yes I have pain but I don't need all those drugs. Now they have burned up my recptors and this class of drugs will not work for me. Oxycontin is the hardest thing I ever got off of and I have had them all. They gave me buckets of morphine in the hospital and I had no problem. I used the fentynal patch and had no problem stopping. Our great government let these people get away with murder. I know they may have bought it off the street but it should have never been used except for terminal people. Yes I know we are all terminal but you know who I'am talking about. More people need to know about Suboxone along with more doctors. We seem to have a bunch of chicken shit attorneys in Texas. They don't want to touch anything like this.
Yes our drug laws need to change. Like everything else if you put someone in charge it want be long before they line their pockets. I really think some of the pain management clinics need to be checked a little more often. This is how I got addicted and it was legal. Had I known the truth I would have never used Oxycontin. I wish I had the answer so I could give it to you and others. Good luck

I already planned on making everyone I know get together and watch this. The morning after I watched your movie, I went to work in outrage, I knew deep down that things weren't right and that it made absolutely no sense that people where put in prison and jail for being addicted to anything. Everyone is addicted to something may it be food, cloths or drugs. I will be active with this and although I am just one person I am going to try to figure out how to get the question answered from Obama what his take is on your documentary. I don't have to remain anonymous, I would love to be heard. Thank you again! Kristina, Michigan

When Can I purchase this awsome record of deception to show my parents the truth. I am a convicted felon( Possession of more than three ounces of a controlled substance in the plant form). I harnessed Mother Nature in the privacy of my own home and became a P.O.W. in this war. I lost everything. It has taken me 7 years to rebuild my life. They need to know. Please, help me.

Charlie

i loved the movie i think u need to show it to the world. everyone needs to know. because like u said they are all in a little box never thinking outside the box. not learning the real facts all government propaganda movie was amazing learned alot deff. and i think the public needs more more more more the more you expose it the more citizens will eventually learn prohibition doesnt work but control and regulation would

Galvin

Hello,
My husband and I currently watched your documentary AMERICAN DRUG WAR and would really like to own a DVD and/or book of this.
Also, we�d be interested in reading/watching your other work.

While watching AMERICAN DRUG WAR, we both shared our agreed views that are spoken through your words. We both learned we had (already) written papers on this in high school and college. Boy, so we wish we had saved our papers!

Please let me know if your movies and/or books are available to purchase. If so, where and how do we acquire?

Thank you, in advance, for your time and attention to my email.
And, Thank You for being such a well spoken representative of Freedom of Speech and Free Thinking!

Your Respectful Fans,
Gladecia & Patrick

I saw the documentary for the first time last night on
Showtime and wanted to give you a thumbs up. Your
documentary hit the nail on the head of several
subjects I've noticed myself in the media, yet no one
else seems able to take note of.

The only critique I have of the film is with the scene
in the latter half of the movie where the kids were
brazenly blowing reefer smoke directly into the camera
lens. This scene struck me as a little juvenile in
comparison with the rest of the film, which was very
well orchestrated.

I congratulate your efforts and felt it was very eye
opening and informative. Given that this country is
slowly turning into a nation of uniformed mindless
zombies incapable of critical thought, your film has
the potential to better

CIA - Michael Hayden �correction

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 20:12:43 -0500

CIA director Michael Hayden was the head of the NSA under Bill Clinton � Bush from March 1999 to April 2005, not under Reagan/Bush during the Iran Contra scandal as is stated in the film.

SHOWTIME -party -March 5th - Kevin & Trae's house in Hell-Angeles

Fri, 07 Mar 2008 10:45:24 -0600

http://forums.sacredcowproductions.com/index.php?act=Attach&type=post&id=421

The other day I was walking back towards my house up this very steep street with my dogs when two guys came around the corner causing my female wolfy dog to jump back. I looked up and said �Matthew Modine just freaked out my dog� He asked to borrow some jumper cables.

� since Mathew is in the Showtime series �Weeds� I thought it would be nice to have him over for our little get � together. The guests seemed to have fun, beside the fact that hearing my voice over the cable was causing me to have a out of Body Experience� You know how you always hate the sound of your own voice? Well imagine hearing it drone on for two long solid hours over cable TV with a major celebrity sitting in front of you not laughing at your jokes. (Party down!!)

http://forums.sacredcowproductions.com/index.php?act=Attach&type=post&id=422
Watch the new trailer made by showtime

I got hundreds of really heavy but positive emails from all over the country. I think it�s a good sign when everyone says the same things, I�m finding that people are wanting to tell me their deepest darkest drug stories, I don�t know what to say sometimes, I suppose I opened myself up for it.

The film starts in Australia on the Fox crime network in a few days, you call that a bong? this is a bong!

Silver Lake film festival program

Wed, 02 May 2007 11:47:59 -0500

http://forums.sacredcowproductions.com/index.php?act=Attach&type=post&id=281

UFO's Bill Hicks and the Harmonic Convergence of 1987

Mon, 04 Dec 2006 00:55:16 -0600

http://forums.sacredcowproductions.com/index.php?act=Attach&type=post&id=93

It was the most important event in Bill�s life. It was the moment where all the
possibilities he believed in and had searched for became a reality. It�s seems like it was
something we were preparing for our whole lives. In a practical sense it was something
for which we spent weeks preparing. Yoga, meditation, sensory deprivation: we did it all.
We even did water yoga, where we floated in a pool wearing mask and snorkel doing
poses, floating and sinking and floating and sinking.

Bill and I and David, we were clearing our minds. That was the �preparation.� We didn�t
want our brains to be busy for what was about to happen. We didn�t know what was
going to happen, we just wanted to be calm and open so that we could participate fully in
the possibilities. We were mentally and spiritually aligning ourselves and we were
meticulous. Even watching our diet. No fast food. No junk food. Carrots. Not chili dogs.
As the day got closer, we went to a seminar where people were handing out literature on
the significance of the Harmonic Convergence. They were explaining how the planets
were going to align. They had astrologers. We got reading. Then, the morning of, we
drove out to the ranch in Fredericksburg, Bill, David, Riley, Epstein, and I.
Originally we were going to go to Enchanted Rock. Just north of the ranch, Enchanted
Rock is a massive granite batholith whose main dome rises some 300 feet over the
surrounding Texas terrain. The people indigenous to the area though it to be inhabited by
spirits. It was supposed to be one of the main sites, along with Mt. Shasta, California and
Uluru in the Australian Outback among others, for people wanting to congregate and
share the experience of whatever was about to be experienced.
But we had watched the local news and saw how many people were going out to
Enchanted Rock. All of the sudden it looked like Eyeore�s Birthday Party with a bunch of
middle class hippies going to hang out, take drugs, and bang drums. We reconsidered.
Fuck that. That�s the last place we want to go. Something about crowds, it increased by
several orders of magnitude the chances that someone would do something to ruin the
trip. We thought: If this is for real, we don�t need to be around all of these people. Let�s
go with what we know. Let�s just go to the ranch. We always have great trips there. If we
really are going to tap into other minds or something spiritual, then it can happen there.
We tried to synchronize everything. It was part of the ritual. We all took the exact same
amount of mushrooms at the exact same time. We even prepared them the same. We
broke the caps and stems up into small pieces and put them into identical bowls,
specifically my parents nice crystal. We usually timed our dosing to where we peaked
right as the sun went down. Not this time. Late summer in Texas, the sun still doesn�t go
down until after 8 o�clock We went early.

Part of the experience was that everyone else around the world was all supposed to be
logging on to the same metaphysical chat room at the same time. It was part of the mental
telepathy. Everything uniform, everybody in sync. Except of course Epstein breaks stride.
He had his own program. �I�ve got to read this passage from the Bible and this passage
from the Koran and do this yoga.� Epstein was playing with crystals and was getting
bogged down with his New Age trinkets. Riley waited for Epstein, we couldn�t. We had
done our prep work. Bill, David, and I took our mushrooms and walked down to the pond
at the ranch where we sat in a lotus position.
We took five grams. Five grams of dried mushrooms is a lot. If you wanted to punch a
hole through the fabric of space-time, five grams is good. But don�t try it yourself at
home or at my family�s ranch or any place unless you are ready and willing to cross the
threshold.

We sat at the pond, the three of us, and focused in on each other�s energy. It wasn�t
uncommon for one of us to get up and wander away at some point. Bill and I had both
done this. David stayed seated by the pond.
Bill wandered over to me and said, �I want you to explain Einstein�s theory of relativity
to me. I want to be able to grasp it.� It was something that I had been reading about
before the Harmonic Convergence. And even though textbook explanations didn�t always
register with Bill, he wanted me to try to give him a technical �classroom� explanation.
So we walked circles around the pond. I spent some time trying to explain to him what I
understood, then went back and sat down in a space where there was a group of trees
facing the pond.

We sat back down and the next thing we knew, we opened our eyes and we shared this
UFO experience. From a descriptive standpoint, it�s almost ridiculous to talk about as
visually it did seem like something from a bad science fiction movie. Cheesy. Very �This
Island Earth.� On some level when something like this happens�whether it�s just in your
own mind or whether it�s actually happening�it might just trigger things already in your
brain that allow you to identify or relate to certain energies or entities.
The inside of the ship was like a conch shell. I walked down a circular ramp through a
hallway of light and headed toward a circle of light. The beings, they were glowing.
Again, describing how things looked starts to sound absurd, but they looked like Mr
Burns from The Simpsons, specifically in the episode where he emerges from the forest
looking like an alien. His eyes dilated and his body glowing green�the aliens were
lustrous like that.

Bill and I were both in the ship. He was asking questions like: �Why are you here? Why
is this happening?� I remember coming out with explanations of time travel and a firm
belief that the barriers to time travel and communication were all inside your mind.
Basically anything was possible. These beings were bridging the gap between belief and
non-belief. Between love and hate.
At the time I was thinking that my head conjured up this image just for me to see, then
Bill indicated to me he had seen and experienced the exact same thing. Immediately after
leaving the ship, we opened each other�s eyes. We said a few words:

KEVIN

Oh my God. Did you� ?

BILL

Yes.

After that we realized that we were able to communicate completely telepathically. It was
way beyond just being able to make people laugh when tripping, like the experiences Bill
first had when he took mushrooms and went on stage to do comedy, times when he
thought he was reading the audience�s collective mind.

This was very specific. For the first time ever, Bill and I were able to say things and hear
each other back, able to ask questions and get answers. We had a perfectly normal
conversation without either one opening our mouths. We were perfectly in sync. It was
like a miracle. We communicated like this for a while. Neither of us saying anything.
We were snapped out of our place, for lack of a better term, when we heard footsteps
crunching on the granite pathway. We looked up to see Epstein walking towards us. �Are
you guys feeling anything? I�m not really getting off.� It was so funny. �Dude you
missed it,� Bill said.
�I just think mushrooms were a lot stringer back in the Sixties. I remember back in
Berkeley�� Epstein was one of those people. Epstein. I was late getting here. I had to
read a passage out of the Bible. I had to read a passage out of the Koran. I�ve got my
crystals.

We were: �Oh my God. None of the matters. Let it go. Let it all go.�
I kept picking up Epstein�s crystals and clanking them together like I was trying to start a
fire, like they were pieces of flint. It was too easy and too fun to tease him. He opened
himself up to it. There were sparks flying off the crystals when I chipped them. �Stop
disrespecting the crystals.� And we would die laughing. �Dude, it�s just a rock. There is
nothing sacred about a rock.�

He was so cluttered up with all of this crap that he wasn�t seeing what we were seeing. It
was funny and tragic and sad at the same time. Jesus could have punched him in the face
and he would have missed it. Sometimes he was so preoccupied with living in the
moment that he was missing the moment. We were laughing at him, but we were also
thinking, �We have to get away from him.� We didn�t even mention the UFO. We didn�t
want to ruin the place where we were. We told him not to worry. It was all going to
happen. It was amazing. Enjoy it.

Then Bill and I walked back to the ranch house, just to get away from Epstein. It was still
light outside and we were still tripping balls when we sat down at a picnic bench in the
yard. We both crossed our arms on the table and put our heads down on our arms. We sat
there for what had to be 20 minutes or more telling each other jokes� without saying a
words. Again, it was back and forth. And it was telepathic. We were making each other
laugh like you can�t imagine.
And there was something unusual about the jokes. They had depth. They had several
levels of humor to them that we were able to share at once. It was like telling a sevenlayered
joke with one line. I remember we even joked about Epstein. We weren�t making
fun of him because he couldn�t do it., but we were also making fun of him because we
wished that he could be experiencing the same thing. We did it all without words.
That was only the start. It was still hot outside, so Bill and I went into the house to get
some water, then laid down on the floor in the living room. Suddenly we were tapping in
to other people�s voices.

BILL

Dude, do you get the feeling that we are meeting hundreds of people right
now?

KEVIN

Oh my God, yes.

It went from being the two of us being able to communicate with each other, to us being
dialed into a network where now we were openly communication with hundreds,
thousands, maybe millions of minds at the same time. There was something identifiable
in it, like we could trace where they voices were coming from and who they were.
Everybody was sharing this moment because they wanted to. It seemed as real as the
words on this page. It was freeing. And it was unbelievable. We just laid on the floor and
stayed tapped into whatever we had tapped into.
On the come down we kept laughing our asses off. The communication started to slow
down, but we were still on when James Seggener [sp?] showed up at the ranch. He was a
local kid that my dad hired to take care of the lawn at the ranch. German kid. Redneck.
Name on the belt. The whole bit.

In the 1800s, most of central Texas was originally settled by Czechs and Germans. And
the smaller towns really maintain a strong strains of that heritage. On top of that finding a
synagogue in some of those towns is like finding an Amish rock star. Does it even
happen? So he had to be a little put off to get accosted by Epstein; and Epstein must have
seemed like an alien to this kid.
Then he starts trying to explain to this kid how his crystals can help you travel through
time if you rubbing them together. Bill was on the ground howling. The kid looked more
confused and bewildered. It was all we could do to get out the words in English to tell
him to come back and mow and different day. But the scene was hitting funny on
multiple levels. Right down to the fact that it was the Jewish guy explaining the most
ridiculous concept to a German kid. It was perfect.
Epstein stayed Epstein the whole time.
EPSTEIN

I didn�t see anything. You guys saw spaceships?

BILL

Dude, they are all around us right now. There is one right behind you.

They are everywhere.

EPSTEIN

I don�t think mushrooms are as strong as they used to be.
Bill and I even joked telepathically about not wanting to become Epstein, about not
wanting to be the, �Well, the whatever was better when I was young.�
It was such a tranforming experience. Bill started talking about it from the stage. �Yeah,
we�re crackers. Join us later. As soon as you get away from the smell of diesel from your
buses, why don�t you come out to the pond and I�ll show you a fucking cow paddy that
turns into a mothership at will.�
And �I leave this show tonight and I get on the mothership and I go to the planet
Arcturus, where golden maidens with three heads line up on their knees.�
I think the crowds were confused by it. Was it a metaphor? Was it a joke? Where was the
punchline? But the first time he talked about it during a show, I was proud and amazed
but also a little bit embarrassed. Maybe it was something we should keep quiet. David,
even though he didn�t have the same experience, he was fully embarrassed. He was
against talking about it in public. But Daivd didn�t have the same experience that we did
that night. He was watching the stars when we boarded. Bill, of course, couldn�t shout it
loud enough from a mountain high enough.

People really didn�t know whether or not to believe him. Most people probably don�t.
Even so it�s enough to believe that Bill believed it. Bill believed everything. He wasn�t
the kind of person who would say, �Well, now I�m a Christian so I no longer believe in
reincarnation.� Multiple religious beliefs could coexist simultaneously. He was a
Christian and a Buddhist. Bill didn�t go through life adopting some beliefs at the expense
of others, but instead was open to things that came to him or came into his consciousness.
But the spaceship, that was the most important thing that ever happened to Bill. He saw
the �source of light that exists in all of us.� Later and he said, �God, I hope that was just
the first of many things just like that.�

The next time we tripped nothing close to the UFO or the telepathy experiences
happened. We were disappointed. It was probably the wrong frame of mind to be in,
trying to make it happen, wanting it to happen. Then Bill and I started joking, �I
remember back at the Harmonic Convergence when everything was really cosmic�� We
had to joke about it, we meant it and we were sounding like Epstein.
It was a right place, right time for that moment. I think Bill always thought he could get
somewhere else. This was the moment it was proved to him. It�s easy to point out the
obvious: You took 5 grams of mushrooms, of course you are going to see spaceships and
all kinds of other shit that doesn�t exist. That�s why they call them hallucinogens. They
cause hallucinations.
That�s a valid argument. But we were taking hallucinogens to help boost consciousness.
It was more like a key opening a door. The door was there without the drugs. What the
mushrooms would do is they would allow two or more people to get in sync and open the
door together and walk through it together and experience what�s in the next room
together.
But have you ever taken five grams of dried mushrooms? It�s not like taking a gram or
two and having a fun trip where you go dance with yourself to borderline arrhythmic
music featuring 30 minute 3-note guitar solos. Nor is it like taking acid and sitting in your
living room and watching your walls melt. Something happens when you take upwards of
about four dried grams. That experience wasn�t unique to us.

Bill referenced Terrance McKenna often from the stage when he talked about the UFO
experience. McKenna was once described as the Magellan of psychedelic head space. A
true child of the Sixties, after graduating from the University of California at Berkeley, he
spent time studying native Amazon plant life and hallucinogens, particularly as they
related to local shamanistic traditions.
McKenna had also developed interesting theories about the role that psilocybin played in
evolution. The oversimplified version is that the tendency to form dominance-based
hierarchies by primates was interrupted for about 100,000 years by the introduction of
psilocybin in the paleolithic diet. So organizational behavior in primates changed at the
same time that characteristics like language and esthetics also emerged. The overoversimplification
is that the course of evolution was drastically altered�from violent to
social�when monkeys started eating mushrooms.

In an essay in published in 2000, the same year he died, McKenna wrote: "We wouldn't
be here if it weren't for psychedelic drugs. In terms of the role of psilocybin in human
evolution on the grasslands of Africa, people not on drugs were behind the curve. The
fact is that, in terms of human evolution, people not on psychedelics are not fully
human.�
McKenna thought that tryptamine-based hallucinogens, such as those found magic
mushrooms, were a vehicle for communication with other forms of life across the
universe. He was particularly fascinated by a pronounced consistency of experience
among people ingesting large dosages�he referred to these, greater than three and a half
grams, as �heroic� (Bill often alluded to this term on stage, and often exceeded that
amount when taking mushrooms). People taking such large doses were, with noticeable
frequency, reporting that they were all going to a place, a realm, he described as
inhabited by entities he termed �self-transforming machine elves.�
The way these entities were perceived was based on the hallucinogen and the context it
which it was taken. For example, McKenna found that DMT, once extracted from plants,
purified and smoked, invariably resulted in the user having a UFO abduction experience.
And in these instances the �machine elves� were seen as aliens in flying saucers. Sounds
familiar. McKenna began to speculate about the universality of the hallucinogenic
experience, especially as it related to UFOs and other beings and entities.
Said McKenna: �If you take mushrooms you're climbing on board a starship manned by
every shaman who ever did it in front of you, and this is quite a crew, and they've really
pulled some stunts over the millenia, and it's all there, the tapes, to be played.�
So when Bill talked about mushrooms and evolving and UFOs he wasn�t joking. Okay,
he found a way to get a laugh out of it��That�s why people in rural areas always see
UFOs, they are always tripping on mushrooms that the cows just shit out of their
butt��but Bill wasn�t kidding when he talked about it from the stage.

At some point Bill had also found Daryl Anka. Anka was a total Valley-boy surfer. Equal
Jeffs Spicoli and Lebowski. But he would go into trances and channel Bashar, a male
member of a 5th dimensional civilization called the Essassani. Huh? Yeah, well this was
the gig. But Bashar supposedly came from 300 light years in the future; and the Essassani
civilization is theoretically based on unconditional love, ecstasy, fun, following your
excitement, and being completely non-judgmental.

There are sessions where you can actually pay to sit there and talk to Bashar through
Anka. People who are into this speak of Bashar�s profound understanding of reality and
his ability to process information rapidly. I understand that being non-judgmental is one
of the central tenets of the Essassani belief system, but it�s hard not to be slightly
skeptical that Bashar is so intelligent yet claims to come from 300 light years in the
future. Light years are a measure of distance, not time.
Maybe this escaped Bill, too. Maybe it�s unimportant. And what is important is the
message not the messenger. It was just the kind of thing that drew Bill in, and he had
several tapes from these question and answer sessions with Bashar.
The one that hit Bill hard was the one where Bashar talked about psychedelic drugs,
saying basically that they�re a tool, a key, a way to pull the veils away and see through
dimensions. But don�t ever use them as a crutch, the second you do, game over. Bill
connected what he got out of Bashar with the UFO experience. It was another affirmation
that what happened wasn�t unusual in the sense that it wasn�t something that other people
hadn�t found evidence for.

If you take five grams of mushrooms and you experience something like what we did that
night, it is real. The drugs weren�t the cause in the sense that it didn�t happen, except for
what we hallucinated. The mushrooms just allowed us to cross the threshold and see what
we were allowed to see. There was plenty out there to suggest that this was not
unexpected. That this might be what was waiting on the other side of the threshold.
But the notion of using drugs as a crutch, that also resonated with Bill, and it wasn�t too
long after the Harmonic Convergence that he got it into his mind, �God, I want to go
sober, I have to go sober.�
But he wasn�t done yet. Bill had to bottom out. It�s analogous to someone trying to force
a smoker to quit by giving him cartons of cigarettes to smoke. They have to smoke them
all at once and put enough nicotine in their body to poison it until they are puking, until
they are puking up blood. It has to become such a miserable experience that you un-ring
the bell. It couldn�t have been a conscious effort, but while Bill was suffering, he hadn�t
quite made it to Hell yet, hadn�t purposely hit the bottom. He would.

Bill knew that he needed to get sober. And not the kind of half-hearted self-loathing
sobriety that lasted a couple of days only to fail spectacularly. It was common knowledge
in the clubs that if you hired Bill Hicks you were hiring a drunk, and there were better
than even money odds that he would go off. You no longer had a comedian on stage but
an irate drunk who was pissing off the clientele that bought the drinks which kept you in
business. So from a career standpoint, it became apparent that he needed to turn things
around. There were a few things in the wind�a HBO special and a management deal�in
spite of himself he was somehow getting to a position where he had things to lose.
But the first major catalyst was the UFO experience on the Harmonic Convergence. Bill
believed that he had direct communication with another intelligent life form that was
trying to show him what the future could be like. And the future was all about love, light
and acceptance. The drugs we took were not to be used as a crutch, and when you used
them like that, you lost the whole point of it. And that�s the exact reason why we
originally got into it.

Agent of Evolution

Did Bill Hicks Smoke Pot?

Sun, 12 Nov 2006 01:10:03 -0600

http://forums.sacredcowproductions.com/index.php?act=Attach&type=post&id=38

One of the big misconceptions people have about Bill and his pro-drug stance is that he was pot smoker.

First off, �pro-drug� is a loaded phrase. Bill was for choice, and if you want to do something to yourself (say, mushrooms) that had absolutely no impact on another person, then that shouldn�t be illegal. Your body is your own.

It was the kind of thing that Bill wanted to be so clear on that even after beating you over the head with jokes that had all the subtlety of an Ayn Rand novel, he would then bother to spell it out explicitly on stage: "As long as you don't harm another human being, what business is it of yours what I do?"

Moreover, this politically hysterical notion that drugs were categorically bad was ridiculous. If you thought that but you enjoyed any Beatles song recorded circa Rubber - Soul and after, then you were a hypocrite. End of story. Coleridge did opium. Hunter S. Thompson did everything he could get his hands on. Some positive things came from people doing drugs.

And they were fun.

That�s the one thing the anti-drug lobby will never admit: you can have a shitload of fun doing drugs. Now you can also wreck your life, but it�s not binary. Take one hit and your life is ruined? No. Reasonable people can have self control.

But Bill just didn�t like marijuana. One night he was backstage at the Annex someone handed him a large joint of some super kine bud. Bill took some massive hits off of it. I remember finding him a several minutes later, standing in a dark hallway near the bathrooms with his face buried in a corner like a psychotic person. He was muttering to himself: �Oh my God, I�m in fucking Hell, I�m in Hell right now, I�m never going to smoke pot again. Oh my God, don�t ever hand me pot again.�

When Bill did an interview with High Times in 1993, the interviewer asked him, �Back in the days, when you were still smoking pot, what�s the most fun you ever had?� Bill immediately and let him know, �I was never a big pot fan,� and that mushrooms were more his thing. Bill was for the legalization of pot because he was for the legalization of all drugs. Law enforcement didn�t stop people from using, it only made users criminals.

Plus Bill couldn�t stand the hypocrisy. Alcohol is a drug, but media, specifically advertisers, are allowed to glorify alcohol consumption. Yet things that grow naturally on the earth�marijuana, mushrooms, etc.�are demonized. And that attitude wasn�t something that Bill picked up when he became a drug user, it wasn�t something that he adopted to justify his own drug consumption, it dates back to when he was a teen teetotaler.

Back in the day at Stratford for the Talent Show one year Bill was told that he couldn�t play �Cocaine.� But Clint Black�s band got to cover �Whiskey River.� So Bill can�t do a song about the negative effects of cocaine, but someone else can do a song about wanting to get so drunk that you lose your memory? Wasn�t that the exact wrong message a school should be sending? Yeah, it pissed him off.

Bill advocates legalization of pot because he advocated the legalization of all drugs, but he didn�t like pot. Ecstasy on the other hand. Ecstasy good.

We were out at a cemetery near the ranch in Fredericksburg with David Johndrow taking promo pictures for Year Zero. One of the guys in the band started teasing the rest of us, saying he had a �special treat,� something that would totally dissolve your ego. So we went back to the ranch and took these little pills. David and I soon had this experience where we were living through the last supper. Results may vary.

The first person I called was Bill. "Dude, stop the presses. Get rid of your mushrooms and your acid. Dump the coke. There is this new thing called Ecstasy and you are not going to fucking believe it. It is everything. It's a trip. It's a body high. It is pure euphoria. And when it's over, you're not scrounging for more. Dude, you have to try this." And Bill is like, "Sign me up."

We got three hits�me, Bill, and David�and went out to the ranch. And this is back in the day. Again, Ecstasy was legal at this point. And it was a totally different drug than from what you find today. It was cheap and it was potent. One hit would give you maybe six hours to play. Bill was like a horny schoolgirl: "Let's do it. Let's do it." We managed to stick to our plan. Again, we wanted to be peaking right at the sun was going down.

That first X trip was amazing. We were walking through the woods and we found a spot where we saw these patterns or power emerge�how power and energy were flowing through the woods, how it effected out bodies, and how are bodies were all connected to each other. I started walking in well-defined circles and David started walking in another pattern, while Bill sat in a lotus position. He came out of the lotus and said, "Dude, do you realize that the patterns you just walked describe how our horoscopes interrelate with each other?" Then he explained the whole thing in detail.

It sounds goofy now, but it was so intense and vivid at the time. It was everything you wished acid could have been. The first trip we took together, it was unifying. It unified the three of us together, me, David and Bill. And unified us with the land and the ground and the trees. It was perfect.

Ecstasy was the answer. It allowed you to control your thoughts and direct your trip. I remember one time Bill sat there thinking aloud: "Jesus dying on the cross, what did that really mean?" He put himself through a crucifixion and wanted to be born again. There was another time when we were again at the Ranch. Bill looked up at everyone there�me, David Johndrow. Brent Ballard, and Bob Reilly�and said, "Gentlemen, we are about to be cleansed." It was like a stage cue. The skies opened up on us, and it began pouring down rain.

Usually you would be screaming, "Shit, let's get out the rain," or you would run and get an umbrella. Instead, because Bill had put us right frame of mind with his comment, we drank it in. It was a beautiful thing. We were being cleansed. We loved every drop that hit us.

After finding Ecstasy, we would still take mushrooms, but when MDMA first hit the market, when was pure, it fucking ruled. Why would you ever want to take acid anymore? Why would you want to buy coke anymore? And for a time, it was legal.

The CIA was selling crack

Sun, 12 Nov 2006 00:53:32 -0600

http://forums.sacredcowproductions.com/index.php?act=Attach&type=post&id=18

MIKE RUPPERT
For a long time in South Central, the buzz was that the CIA was selling crack.

I said that �No, the CIA wasn�t selling crack, the CIA was importing cocaine.� Ricky Ross got it, turned it into crack and he sold it.

NARRATOR
According to Gary Webb�s Dark Alliance, when Danilo Blandone was displaced from his home country of Nicaragua, he set off to America to raise money to aid the Contras in ridding his home from the invading Sandinistas.

When Ricky Ross was introduced to Blandone, Blandone was in a position to create a pipeline of cocaine that he in turn gave to Ricky Ross on consignment.

FREEWAY RICK
Which I liked the sound of that. Because I was always trying to get to the top anyway.

MIKE RUPPERT
Suddenly, some major sources opened up for him � Danilo Blandone, Norwin Meneces, both of whom were tied to the CIA and the Contras, and Gary Webb did a masterful job of breaking those stories and proving with documents that that was the case.

FREEWAY RICK
I started doing a little research on my own. I read a little about Oliver North and the Contras, because I never knew what the Contras were before.

CHICO BROWN
There�s ledgers of Oliver North and them actually transporting the cocaine into our country. There�s film! Every piece of document that�s possible.

NARRATOR
Talk about being in the wrong place at the wrong time. First-time dealer and former crip, Leroy �Chico� Brown was arrested with Rick.

Chico walked into a DEA sting operation that was set up to capture and imprison Rick in trade for Rick�s old partner, Danilo Blandone.

CHICO BROWN
�How could this be possible?� And then we were reading through the documents and that�s when Gary Webb started explaining it to us, and we was like - everything came together now.

NARRATOR
One of the most paramount moments perhaps caused by Gary Webb�s �Dark Alliance� took place in November of 1996.

MIKE RUPPERT
It was a monumental, historic event. I mean, the director of the Central Intelligence Agency was coming to Watts to face the people.

JOHN DEUTSCH (CIA director � Watts footage)
Now, we all know that the U.S. government and the CIA supported the Contras in their efforts to overthrow the Sandinista government in Nicaragua in the middle 80s.

Now it is alleged that the CIA also helped the Contras raise money for arms by introducing crack cocaine into California.

MIKE RUPPERT
Deutsch felt he had to do something to try to deal with the outrage that was foaming all over the country at the time. And of course, it just blew up in his face.

JOHN DEUTSCH
The CIA fights drugs; the CIA does not encourage drugs.

MIKE RUPPERT
I mean, it was actually one of the most monumental blunders of all time if you think about it.

JOHN DEUTSCH
We have no evidence of a conspiracy by the CIA to engage in encouraging drug traffickers in Nicaragua or elsewhere in Latin America.

MIKE RUPPERT
Deutsch was there because of the Gary Webb stories. The Gary Webb stories had sparked a national furor.

CONGRESSWOMAN JUANITA MILLINDER MCDONALD (Watts footage)
I would like to have Ricky Ross�s brother to speak, please.

RICKY ROSS�S BROTHER
The United States government turned their head and let this cocaine come into the United States of America.

WATTS AUDIENCE MEMBER
Allow Gary Webb to have full access!

WATTS AUDIENCE MEMBER #2
This whole thing was orchestrated!

MIKE RUPPERT
It was near pandemonium. It was about 1200 people, standing room only in the auditorium. 2,000 people outside listening on loudspeakers. And it was very hard to keep control.

I got called on finally, and I said very clearly, I was looking right at Deutsch -

MIKE RUPPERT (Watts footage)
I am a former Los Angeles Police Narcotics detective and I worked South Central Los Angeles, and I will tell you Director Deutsch that the agency has dealt drugs throughout this country for a long time.

MIKE RUPPERT
And I was able to name operations.

MIKE RUPPERT (Watts footage)
Director Deutsch, I will refer you to 3 specific agency operations known as Amadeus, Pegasus, and Watchtower. I have Watchtower documents heavily redacted by the agency; I was personally exposed to CIA operations and recruited by CIA personnel who attempted to recruit me in the late 70s to become involved in protecting agency drug operations in this country.

Feeling The Love In Evil City

Sat, 11 Nov 2006 00:22:34 -0600

http://forums.sacredcowproductions.com/index.php?act=Attach&type=post&id=39

I have never once in my life even been to a film festival, so I have no point of reference as to what to expect.

For the last three plus years I have fought an uphill battle of trying to finish my first feature length documentary about the drug war. Yes, I could have finished it ten times by now and have enough material for an entire series, but for once I wanted to make what I considered to be a "real" film, one that people could & would watch over & over, and for once something that stood a chance of doing more then straight to DVD release. My associate producer George Russell suggested this website WithOutABox.com that links to over 2600 festivals. At this point I have already had several screenings at our house in LA, but I felt like it was time to take the film out for a test spin.

My wife Trae submitted a rough cut to eight festivals only a few weeks ago, so we were surprised to get an acceptance email from the East Village NYC EVIL city. We were even more surprised to learn that the festival was six days away. Of course in my never-ending struggle of tweaking, I made it my personal mission to make sure I could bring a newer and improved edit to NYC. My wife and I bought non-refundable Price Line tickets to NYC, we had posters printed & got everything ready. The next day I got an email From Jim Muscarella, who runs the festival telling me that they had a scheduling problem and were not going to be able to show the film? Well if its one thing that I have learned from living in LA is the art of guilt. So after telling Jim that we had bought no-refundable tickets we were back in the game baby. They tell you that your in a festival, you call everyone you know to brag & then they send you an email saying sorry about that, well maybe that's how they got the name EVIL?

We got to New York late Saturday night after a torturous Southwest Airlines day of sitting in the Chicago airport (I know why they film "A&E's Airline there). We found our way to the supper trendy cool East Village. The party was so cool not even the door man knew about it. You had to walk to the back of the club down the hall to the bathroom then a little beaded door lead down more stairs to a secret little room were the band from the film "ESOPs Dinner" was bring spandex back from the dead. We met the guy from Screw Magazine, who asked me point blank after reading the little write up about my film "So what's this big new so called RADICAL perspective about the drug war? UHH you know UUHH it just is? After talking to him for a while he seemed cool and asked me to do a story (SCREW is a legitimate news publisher right?) Jim of Evil City who seemed to be running the entire show greeted us, but was in what he calls his "Act 11" drinking phase.

The next day we got to our screening, it was at a pretty cool old bar on 11th street, small & funky. My only complaint is that it was noisy in the room the film played. I had the strangest feeling when I went to take a piss and my voice was booming over the PA. Right before the film started I had these people from LEAP introduce themselves "Law Enforcement Against Prohibition" The guys I talked to were former narcs and DEA agents, who after arresting innocent drug offenders for most of their careers grew a conscience & decided to fight to help end the drug war. During the screening they seemed like they were into it, until the Legalize Pot section started, maybe I miss read the vibe, but they seemed to turn on that. Classically Danny Danko Cultivation Editor From High Times & Mary Ought Six writer from High Times walked up to rave about the film & invited me to smoke out with them right in front of these LEAP guys. OHH WELL

The Next Night we went up to the High Times office on Park Avenue, exactly what you would expect, a bunch of guys talking conspiracies all stoned out to the gills, but they are really cool and have invited me to the High Time festival in Spain. If these guys get that High in NYC what do they do in Spain? How much more high can you get?

My wife Trae gets really paranoid when she smoke so she sat it out, but I took one for the team, problem was that the next stop was the awards ceremony that I was already late for and could not even remember my own name. We got there in time, but Jim cut the ceremony in half with a 90 minute film "Mark of the Ninja" Crime is are Art is Crime, you see the problem. So we went to eat at Little Italy & when I got back everyone was standing in the lobby giving me a dirty look. "Where were you? You won Best Documentary & your were not even her?" Man I thought those Mark of Ninja Artist guys had it in the bag, they had 30 people from the film at the show & they all knew all the guys running the festival. I felt so bad it was my ultimate middle age Scott Bio moment "I WAS STONED!"

After living in LA for a year NYC seems friendly & clean, and people will actually talk to you even if you don't look like a model or celebrity. I won my first festival although I fucked up my fleeting moment of glory because of drugs. My film is by no way a pro drug message, but dam those High Times guys didn't care, so I blame them for my absent acceptance speech moment being lost forever. My LA manager Gary is less then impressed by the win, I told him it gives Street Cred to have the artsy East Village guys like it. He said "Street Cred Smeat cred"

Sundance now that's a festival...