Movie Review: Bad Lieutenant, Port of Call New Orleans (2009)

Posted on May 21, 2014 by Brian Wright

Nicholas Cage excels in film noir w/ a twist __ 8/10

Aside from the fabulous featured performance by Nicolas Cage (Terence McDonagh: the ‘bad lieutenant’) this movie is an object lesson on how drug prohibition corrupts entire governments—from the sidewalks, to city hall, to the state capital. And the root corruptees are always the police, where the the day-to-day human contact comes into play, the laws must be enforced (or bought off), and the rubber meets the road. The buying-off is an essential part of the process… in reality, and in the movie. Continue reading →

Guest Column: Pot Law Sleaze-Beneficiaries

Posted on April 23, 2012 by Brian Wright

Lobbyists getting rich over weed prohibition
by Lee Fang (RepublicReport.org)

Last year, over 850,000 people in America were arrested for marijuana-related crimes. Despite public opinion, the medical community, and human rights experts all moving in favor of relaxing marijuana prohibition laws, little has changed in terms of policy.

There have been many great books and articles detailing the history of the drug war. Part of America’s fixation with keeping the leafy green plant illegal is rooted in cultural and political clashes from the past. Continue reading →