Vanguard | August 24, 2011 | 3 comments

Marijuana Wars, Part 1

Adam_Yamaguchi

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In this two-part episode, executive producer and correspondent Adam Yamaguchi embeds with a task force working to take down Mexican drug trafficking organizations operating in the U.S. California has become one of the leading producers of marijuana in the world, and the proceeds from marijuana have become a cash cow for traffickers, generating greater profits than cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin combined. The task force surveys and eradicates multi-million dollar marijuana fields in the U.S. run by Mexican drug trafficking organizations - including grow sites in state and national parks.

"Vanguard" is Current TV's no-limits documentary series whose award-winning correspondents put themselves in extraordinary situations to immerse viewers in global issues that have a large social significance. Unlike sound-bite driven reporting, the show's correspondents, Adam Yamaguchi, Christof Putzel and Mariana van Zeller, serve as trusted guides who take viewers on in-depth real life adventures in pursuit of some of the world's most important stories.

For more, go to http://current.com/vanguard.

Current Media, the Peabody-and Emmy Award-winning television and online network founded in 2005 by Al Gore and Joel Hyatt, features the very best in commentary andinformation programming. Home to the newly launched "Countdown with Keith Olbermann," as well as the celebrated documentary series "Vanguard," Current is dedicated to providing insightful analysis of important issues -- and digging deep into real stories to uncover how they affect real people. Current shines a light where other networks won't dare and boldly explores provocative subjects - opening minds, sparking conversations and forming deep connections with our viewers. Current creates the commentary and delivers the independent, unexpected point-of-view our viewers want and need to hear. On air and on all platforms, Current is media that matters.

Current is now available via cable and satellite TV in 60 million households in the US through distribution partners Comcast (Channel 107); Time Warner; DirecTV (Channel 358 nationwide); Dish Network (Channel 196 nationwide); Verizon and AT&T. In the UK and Ireland, Current is available on BSkyB (Channel 183) and Virgin Media (Channel 155). Viewers can also find Current online at http://current.com.
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3 comments // Marijuana Wars, Part 1 // Video

  • clyde_oscope
    • 0
      clyde_oscope  

    • I know I would be really interested in seeing a Vanguard doc that takes an angle that focuses on individual growers themselves. This episode briefly touches on the fact that the safety of many of the growers' families may be at stake, but I personally feel like that aspect of the story is a little too important to mention in passing.

      It may be a bit of a stretch, but if the Vanguard crew could find a family to follow I think the story that unfolds would be chock full of provocative insights into the Mexican job economy and what factors lead people into these sorts of situations.

    • 8 months ago
  • Chris_Weber
    • 0
      Chris_Weber  

    • I agree with Novek on this one. In your episode about Oxycontin addiction you show first hand the damaging effects of the drug on people.

      Please do an episode about the long term effects of smoking cannabis...
      It would be a short and boring episode. But satisfying for those of us who know the truth.

      You would have plenty of time to weigh out the pros and cons of anti-drug legislation. How about highlighting that the majority of drug arrests in the state where I live (Illinois) are African-Americans while the majority of drug users are white and middle class. I suggest the folks at Current read a book called The New Jim Crow Project.

      A show about the racial disparity of the drug war (past and present) might help you win back some street cred.

    • 8 months ago
  • Novek
    • 0
      Novek  

    • wow i thought this would be better. It just turned out to be a giant anti-pot ad. ...ok... also the pot getting stronger part was an outright lie. in the 70's the government grew some of the best bud around then and today. They were able to work with larger quantities of plants allowing them to pick the best traits and combine them en mass. Usually like your stories but this one seems like you let your journalistic integrity clout you.

    • 8 months ago

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