Watch Drugs as Weapons Against Us

Drug as Weapons Against Us is a documentary film that explores the dark side of the United States government's involvement in drug trafficking. The film exposes how drugs were used as a weapon by the US government to control and manipulate various groups and countries for political and economic gain. The documentary is directed by John Potash and features renowned civil rights activist Bobby Seale and Ed Opperman, an investigative journalist.

The film delves into the role played by the CIA and other government agencies in facilitating the spread of drugs like cocaine, heroin, and marijuana throughout the United States and beyond. The documentary asserts that the government's motives were not merely financial gain, but also to use the illegal drug trade for sabotage, propaganda, and covert operations against perceived enemies of the state.

One of the most significant elements of the film is its examination of how drugs have historically been used to suppress marginalized communities in America. The filmmakers argue that the government has used drugs as a means of repressing minority groups, including the Black Panthers, in the 1960s and 70s. The documentary suggests that the CIA took advantage of the opiate epidemic that swept the US in the 1980s by flooding predominantly black and Latino neighborhoods with drugs, which created a public health crisis that allowed for the militarization of police.

Through interviews with former government officials, whistleblowers, journalists, and academics, the film presents a compelling case that the US government has been complicit in the drug trade for decades. The documentary claims that the US government has systematically conspired with major drug cartels to further its interests overseas. This includes evidence suggesting that during the Iran-Contra affair in the 1980s, the Reagan administration sold arms to Iran and used the proceeds to fund the Nicaraguan Contras, who were known to be heavily involved in drug smuggling.

The documentary also sheds light on the role that the pharmaceutical industry has played in the spread of opioid addiction in the US. The film argues that major pharmaceutical companies knowingly oversold opioids, downplayed their addictive potential, and spent millions to influence government policies to benefit their profits. The documentary illustrates how these actions have led to an opioid epidemic that has devastated communities across the country and has caused untold suffering for millions of Americans.

Of course, Drugs as Weapons Against Us is not without its detractors. Some critics have accused the documentary of being overly sensationalistic or conspiracy-minded. Others have pointed out that the film often relies heavily on secondary sources, hearsay or anonymous interviews, without providing much concrete evidence or explanation for how the government carried out its alleged nefarious activities.

Despite these criticisms, Drugs as Weapons Against Us remains a provocative and thought-provoking film. It urges viewers to question how the war on drugs has been used as a tool of repression and exploitation, and encourages them to seek out more information about the dark underbelly of US government policy. By shining a light on the role that the US government has played in facilitating the drug trade, the documentary prompts viewers to consider the larger implications of unchecked government power and secrecy on democratic societies.

In conclusion, Drugs as Weapons Against Us is a bold and controversial documentary that exposes the darker side of US government involvement in the drug trade. The film's shocking revelations about the government's complicity in drug trafficking and addiction make it a must-see for anyone interested in understanding how politics, capitalism, and power intersect in America. The documentary's themes of racism, repression, and social justice also make it a timely and important document of the struggles facing the US today.

Drugs as Weapons Against Us is a 2018 documentary with a runtime of 2 hours. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.3.