Breaking the Taboo
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Breaking the Taboo

2011, Drugs  -   64 Comments
7.47
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Ratings: 7.47/10 from 15 users.

Breaking the TabooIn 2011 a group of world leaders including seven ex-presidents set up the global commission on drug policy to end the forty year war on drugs. But wars are easier to start than to finish. The war on drugs officially started in 1971 when President Richard Milhous Nixon said: "We must wage what I have called total war against public enemy number one in the United States, the problem of dangerous drugs."

The answer for a country already fighting one war in Vietnam was another war, but this time on drugs, to combat the number of Americans using illegal narcotics. But the war on drugs would not be confined to the United States. In order to stop the production and supply of illegal narcotics, America insisted upon help from the rest of the world.

The UN conventions on drugs amounted to a global ban on producing, transporting, selling, and possessing any drug classified as illegal. And it's set in stone, an attitude towards narcotics that lasted for decades.

Narrated by Morgan Freeman, Breaking the Taboo features interviews with several current or former presidents from around the world, such as Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter. The film follows The Global Commission on Drug Policy on a mission to break the political taboo over the United States led War on Drugs and expose what it calls the biggest failure of global policy in the last 40 years.

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Glenn Luttrell
Glenn Luttrell
7 years ago

This documentary not available in my Country (Australia), why is that? I can get violence, brutality, rape, murders but I can not look at something (Pot) that promotes peace and passiveness, no wonder the world is hell bent on war because it's not ready for a peaceful world

G
G
7 years ago

I always thought there had to be a victim for something to be considered a crime. Drug War is a bad idea. It created a staff for the drug economy by giving nonviolent drug offenders felonies and a criminal record keeping them out of jobs which they could actually make a living with. If one can't even work as a janitor what else will they do. Drug War = DUMB politicians

Adam
Adam
8 years ago

John Krisfalusci

1. You're using ad hominem attacks which completely exposes you as the troll you're denying you are.

2. Your grasp of addiction, it's causes, it's effects, and the way to treat them is severely limited and pathetic. Not to mention that you have, obviously, not read ANY actual studies about crime and crime detterants for drug user/abusers or the programs that actually help them.

3. You have OBVIOUSLY not read anything about other countries successes with legalizing drugs, or even the studies in our own states that have taken that plunge with marijuana... just stop.

We get it man, you're afraid of kids smoking pot near your house... it will be okay.

Charlie Onn
Charlie Onn
10 years ago

"THEY" apparently don't want us to see this

Tran Sient
Tran Sient
11 years ago

I tried to watch this DOC and it says "PRIVATE". Why list this Doc on a FREE DOC site... if we cant watch it???

Tran Sient
Tran Sient
11 years ago

I tried to watch this Doc... and it comes up PRIVATE. Whats up with that? Why post it on a FREE DOC site?

Pacha
Pacha
11 years ago

The war on drugs is basically only a war on weed and all the related hemp and cannabis products which threaten the petro chemical and medicinal drug corporations. Time to wise up people.

goodkat
goodkat
11 years ago

Backup, anyone?

Daniela Perkins
Daniela Perkins
11 years ago

Can anyone point me in the right direction to get in touch with the producer of this documentary?

manfruss
manfruss
11 years ago

Best comment! "If you can't control drug use in a maximum security prison, how are you going to control drug use in a free society?"

nounoss karouzos
nounoss karouzos
11 years ago

god help us.now the presidents sell drugs as masonic,illuminati...they doing wars to control drugs as and petrols...god help us

Papilo_Ulysses_Ulysses
Papilo_Ulysses_Ulysses
11 years ago

ugh simple minded "listen to me" John is at it again... Thankgoodness hes not in a position of authority. Anyways enough about him... its all about me! lol NOT!

I think its great that those 2 countries are leading the way on this subject... I did watch it I promise I just cant remember the countries. Such a shame about the other countries suffering because the right attitude is severely lacking.

I always say everyone has a crutch and no one has the right to say what each other can or cannot have, its like the ciggys and alcohol, I cant have either, I quit smoking 10 years ago (by choice), the drink makes me ugly lol and my liver really cant deal with it but I will have a social ONE. Ive only ever had the party stuff at parties but because I was educated, I stayed away from the nasty ones.

I can say im addicted to donuts but and if Im not careful I might end up with donut butt lol. Brings to mind the word "MODERATION", as long as you dont kill anyone and/or hurt anyone steal from them etc etc then no one should be treated like they are less than worthy of a life or the comforts. If you know what I mean. I hate control freaks with a passion, who gave them authority over another grown human, very annoying!

Anyhoos, lets hope sanity prevails and not the likes of Mr "listen to me" Krisfalusci .... Sorry John but you really need to take your head from your proverbial and open your eyes.

Im sorry I hope the above is not whats called "trolling" ?

fonbindelhofas
fonbindelhofas
11 years ago

were else will you abduct slaves from to build radios in factory, oh i mean jail? African ones are busy mining minerals for radio. smoking a join is bad for you, it may lead to being a slave (not that you arent one).

oQ
oQ
11 years ago

I vote yes for Decriminalizing hard drugs and taking pot off the drug list.
I also vote yes for turning many of the prisons into free drug treatment centers offering free education in many fields and part-time paying jobs in nearby towns and cities. The prisons could also offer music concerts and art exhibits as many druggies are pretty good artist.
1i

Fabien L'Amour
Fabien L'Amour
11 years ago

Good documentary. My stance is legalize all drugs but increase penalties for crimes. Get the 10% users that commit crimes in jail and let the 90% law abiding users do what they want. We already have the necessary laws to penalize crimes, there never was a need to have another layer of law specific to drugs.

Jarkko Toivonen
Jarkko Toivonen
11 years ago

Afghanistan has wordls largest opium supply just wondering how much money and casualties this war taking opium from Afghanistan to US has caused.. Does someone really believe US is there cos of terrorists ,every 3rd world country which has oil or other resources seems to be enemy of USA cos of these so called terrorist..

magarac
magarac
11 years ago

Seems like a pretty radical idea. And still it makes a whole lot of sense.
And while they are at it why not start working out the reason why so many people feel the need for doing drugs.

Glen Hale
Glen Hale
11 years ago

The whole thing makes as much sense as installing a flashing red light so a deaf person can see the phone is ringing.
This doc will be update in 20 yrs only the story will be much worse.

Aaron K' Kalat
Aaron K' Kalat
11 years ago

Our leaders learned nothing from the prohibition. With the swipe of a pen (or some such act) they turned millions of good citizens into criminals. Just think of all the poor alcoholics at that time. Closest thing to a rehab was the sanitarium. Fast forward to now, with our hurting economy there is simply no reason to keep pouring funds we don't have into a war that can't be won. These so called laws meant to "protect us from ourselves" as John so eloquently put it do nothing but increase demand and crime. I'm not saying lets make all drugs legal and have a field day, I'm just saying before you declare war you better at least know if the war is winnable.
:|

David Ogg
David Ogg
11 years ago

@John Krisfalusci I see your point we should be giving our children Ritalin
and zolloft instead!

xxDarkSidexx
xxDarkSidexx
11 years ago

Just about to watch the doc, was reading some of the comments, I still smoke weed now and then but very rarely now i have a family, I also done cocaine and Pills, Ecstacy, E's whatever you wanna call em alot too when out clubbing in my earlier years and had some excellent nights out, totally mind blowing and just completely amazing at festivals, but hey, grew up I suppose and knew when to stop.

yahoo-JVZ54TAVTMP2CV3L3NBYOBEBJI
yahoo-JVZ54TAVTMP2CV3L3NBYOBEBJI
11 years ago

Richard Branson wrote a great piece for CNN I think...a week or so ago on this. He is on "the committee." His article put everything into perspective IMO.

~Oliver B Koslik Esq
~Oliver B Koslik Esq
11 years ago

Wonderful film! One of the better doc's here.

I enjoyed hearing the strategy of reform through education, and acceptance. As well, that the war on drugs is silly to say the least, when compared with countries that have produced significant results utilizing de-criminalization tactics.

Alot of the points made sound like modest steps in the right direction, towards a more utopian society.

The more these things are made immoral and criminal, the more underground they go. The farther they go under ground, the more the people that traffic them, will need to protect their interests via violence.

As well when users are damned and looked down upon for their addictions to "chemical pornography". The more potential there is for them to relapse. I say this because when you label someone with stigma, and conjecture, it leaves very little room for the addict to cultivate a new future.

Drug addicts will never just "go away". We can't just go around killing them all off, with hefty jail sentences, or disheveled life opportunities.

The people that do get turned into habitual users can be treated, many rehabilitated.

Brain plasticity is an emerging ideal or rather fact.

Thanks!
~Oliver

dmxi
dmxi
11 years ago

what they actually meant with 'war on drugs' was 'war on other parties selling drugs that are not under government control'...& it's known who is controlling the market as the iran-contra affair & now the increase of afghanistan opiate production indicates.

ThisDarkChestOfWonders
ThisDarkChestOfWonders
11 years ago

Lol republicans are funny. Ideas he says. More like regurgitated dead ends. Ya lets throw even more pot heads in jail! For longer! And build more jails! And higher more cops! Ya that will save the world! I bet he talks to jesus. And i bet jesus talks back lol.....

John Krisfalusci
John Krisfalusci
11 years ago

I'm sorry but the real reason "The War on Drugs" hasn't worked is because there weren't harsher penalties and stricter rules regarding this. Since the laws were vague and sometimes just a petty offense, this gave drug criminals and gangs/cartels more freedom to stay in the gray areas of the justice system. That is what our teachers told us and statistics prove this. How? All the prisons in America are because of Marijuana and coccaine related offenses and same with Addiction clinics; they are filled with drug addicts to the ceiling. Our proposal to Congress next year in 2013 is to increase the penalties so they wouldn't even bother committing these kind of crime. And I am pretty confident it will work.
And no, I'm not trolling, I'm just stating the truth and sometimes truth can hurt but it's reality. Thank you! ^_^

IndustryOfBlame
IndustryOfBlame
11 years ago

This documentary really puts it all onto the table, and is well worth the watch if you haven't personally taken a stand on this issue and would like to know the facts.

There's hardly a word in this doc about the whole "pharmacological" debate concerning the harms or benefits of drug use, and that's a good thing. There's no Californian quack doctor telling you your cancer will be cured if you smoke 10 joints a day, nor some weirdo psychiatrist talking about how marijuana must be damaging to brain cells since studies show Rhesis monkeys asphyxiated by smoke through a gas mask clearly develop health problems. Instead, you get Morgan Freeman, Paulo Coelho and Bill Clinton among others summarising one of the worst and most unnecessary human tragedies in modern times.

I give my kudos to the filmmakers, and my hopes that this enormous farce will come to an end some day soon.

wald0
wald0
11 years ago

History repeats itself, qauling down into the future
When its one second to twelve the hands touch and forrow deeper
History repeats itself, i didn't know, I wouldn't listen
I couldn't see the books were on the shelf
For my concern, I never missed them...

I have worked as a counselor for the last ten years and was a opiate addict myself for almost twenty years, I think that gives me a high definition perspective on this subject- so to speak. What we are doing, locking up addicts for simple use, is not only morally and ethically wrong it is destroying our country one family, one child, one community at a time. Don't get me wrong, if someone commits a violent crime then they should be prosecuted and removed from society until they can be determined to no longer pose a threat, how ever long that may take. If someone is determined to be placing others at risk with their use, neglecting a child or operating a motor vehicle while under the influence, they should also be held responsible- the punishment should fit the individual crime however, no madatory three strike bs. But we must stop locking up ppl for simple use, they need help not punishment. The last thing we should do is cut these ppl off from assistance concerning education, housing, employment, etc. It is generally lack of these very things that pushed the person into the drug world in the first place. When we do this we set up a situation that almost requires the person to offend again, thus the revolving door prison system we currently have is perpetuated.
That said, I have seen this all before somewhere- its like watching a re-run. History repeats itself in never ending cycles. We seem to swing back and forth on some cosmic pendulum, counting out the seconds of our existence punctuated with the occasional random, tragedy that seems to stop everything dead still, if for only seconds, as we catch our breath in collective awe at what it has all become. Then inertia wins again, as it always does, and woooosh- we swing back the other way almost as if we are fleeing from what we were, as if we are forgetting the nature of our prison which will inevitably swing us right back into the center of it all again. I am glad that at the present the pendulum seems to have us in a place of awakening, but i am waiting for that random, seemingly inevitable tragedy that will stop it all and swing us back the other way and hoping, hoping, hoping......