HOW TO MAKE MONEY SELLING DRUGS: A Misguided Documentary

How To Make Money Selling Drugs (2012) is a documentary discussing the lucrative world of drugs and drugs dealing and how people get involved in the world, and, essentially, what should change to make the business less attractive.

In a 90-minute feature, director (and melodramatic narrator) Matthew Cooke interviews a multitude of people among which musicians and actors like Curtis Jackson (50 Cent), Susan Sarandon, Woody Harrelson, Marshall Mathers (Eminem), a whole bunch of drug traffickers among which Brian O’Dea and Freeway Ricky Ross, people from the law enforcement, both pro and against the War on Drugs.

I went into this movie without any prior knowledge. In all honesty, I wasn’t even aware it was a documentary. So when 50 Cent was interviewed, I thought “ha ha, that’s stereotypical”. Which is when I started to suspect it might actually be a documentary. The reason that ball hadn’t dropped any sooner is because I thought it was a joke. How To Make Money Selling Drugs is presented, like the title was suggested, like a how-to, a Do It Yourself, on how to get rich, selling drugs. How to best get started in the world of drugs, how to protect yourself (guided with 50 Cent’s savvy advice “shoot to kill!”), and, how to grow in the business, from small time corner dealer, to a drug lord cartel boss, and even how to beat the case or arrest, and even how to get yourself a corrupt narc. This format is presented with levels (“Level 2: “Pawn” and Level 6: “Kingpin”), and whenever a new level is introduced, it is accompanied by game sounds (Mario collecting a coin) as if it were truly a game.

The documentary takes a turn at about halfway through, when it becomes clear that this movie is not a how-to on how to make money selling drugs. Instead, it appears this is the director’s way of telling us why American legislation should change, and that drugs should be decriminalized and legalized. In my opinion, the first half of the movie diminishes the strength of the latter part of the movie, where he offers some valid arguments why the legislation should change (e.g. corruption in law enforcement and their willingness to break the law to catch the “bad guys”).

Interestingly, beforehand, I didn’t think it would be a real DIY guide, but it was. It baffled me that Cooke presented his movie this way. He illustrates over and over why people are so desperate to get started in the drug business: poverty, loss of parents, et cetera. He has infused the documentary with images of drug movies and particularly, The Wire. At some point, Freeway Ricky Ross, a big dealer, says that when he was young, he was inspired by movies like The Godfather, Scarface, The French Connection. He and his friends actually went to the movies to learn the trade. Why then would Cooke be so oblivious to present this step-by-step guide, even downplaying the danger and risks by showcasing it as a game? Or is he merely out to attract spectators, no matter what they take away from his documentary?

While I appreciate the way he sheds some light on some shady parts of the drug business, and support the sentiment of his call for decriminalization of drugs, to end drug prohibition and control drugs like alcohol is controlled today, I think he had a very twisted way of bringing this message to the world. I sincerely hope his movie has not led to the introduction of more people into the drug business. I would say Cooke had the misguided idea that sarcastically offering the documentary as a how-to would prevent it, but the movie does not appeal to the sense of fear enough to prevent it, most likely. This movie gave me the idea that actually, we are all mad for wanting to work 40+ hours for a meager wage, while the money is just waiting at our doorstep, and that the risk of killing or be killed, going to prison from 5 years to live, is all very much worth it. Because being rich and doing drugs because it’s fun is what counts.

Maybe I’m being too cynical about the DIY aspect of this documentary. Do you agree with my assessment of How To Make Money Selling Drugs?

In the movie, the legislation of Portugal was mentioned, where drugs were decriminalized. Here is a very interesting evaluation of that legislation. What is your opinion about the decriminalization of drugs? Do you think it would work in the U.S.?