Phase 4? Now, that's going to be interesting. Because now the gatekeepers of popular culture are getting their backs up. As has been pointed out, too many people know the truth about cannabis. And some of them are in a position to tell the truth, via their access of the popular media. And their ability to shape the perceptions of many through that access.

Barry knows all about this, from his half-clumsy attempt to inject his propaganda into popular TV shows. He knows the inherent danger of leaving such a vulnerable flank as cultural perceptions of his precious DrugWar exposed; that's why he tried to stick his bureaucratic nose into Hollywood and straight-arm producers and writers into parroting his cause.

Needless to say, some of them resented it. A lot. These movies are a small way of returning the favor.

In a way, none of this should be surprising; things do indeed come in cycles. The last time we were close to decrim was the late 70's. But many of us around then thought that decrim would be a natural progression; that, like night following day, reason would win out over prejudice. No one counted on the resurgence of the faux-Puritanism of the self-proclaimed Moral Majority coupled with ambitious Republicans. So the chance was lost.