PLEA FOR A DRUG-WAR ARMISTICE

It may not be the first documentary to call for the decriminalization
of narcotics, but Damage Done: The Drug War Odyssey is the first to
feature a full slate of ex-cops demanding an end to North America's
seemingly futile crusade against the world's $322-billion drug trade.

Most of the opinions expressed in this NFB-ImX Communications
co-production come from representatives of Law Enforcement Against
Prohibition, a U.S.-based group that consists mostly of retired
officers who are sick of the vice farce.

There is the Stetson-wearing, former Texas cop who rode his horse
across America to spread the word that drug prohibition does nothing
to curb addiction rates, but effectively generates 75 per cent of
felony crime. There is the former undercover cop who busted a pot
dealer, but is still haunted by the look of horror on the face of the
suspect's eight-year-old daughter as he pointed his gun at her dad's
head. There is the former Drug Enforcement Administration agent who
was asked to turn a blind eye to the Iran-contra affair in Nicaragua,
but whose own government was not willing to overlook the roach in his
teenage son's ashtray.

As the drug-beat epiphanies pile up, they are interwoven to form a
Kevlar-tight case in favour of a drug-war armistice. The only thing
glossed over in Connie Littlefield's documentary is some vision of
structure in a postwar-on-drugs world. Viewers have to settle for
Larry Campbell's sound bite: "Let's legalize B.C.'s $7-billion
marijuana business, tax the hell out of it and put all that money
straight into health care. Then let's make cocaine and heroin
available by prescription."

Damage Done: The Drug War Odyssey double bills with Waiting to Inhale
as part of the No More Drug War Film Fest being held in Victoria at
the Roxy Theatre (2657 Quadra St.) on April 14 and in Vancouver at
the Vancity Theatre (1181 Seymour St.) on April 15. Start times for
both locations is 12:30 p.m.