Richard Bransons Son Releases ‘Breaking the Taboo’ on Youtube, Criticizes U.S. ‘War on Drugs’

Sam Branson—son of aviation and music tycoon Sir Richard Branson—hopes his new documentary “Breaking the Taboo” will open people’s eyes on the US War on Drugs the same way Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth” brought light onto the issue of global warming. The film, produced by the younger Branson’s production company Sundog Pictures, launched for free on YouTube rather than in cinemas that charge for a ticket because of the Web site’s potential reach millions of viewers.

Neither Branson is a fan of the War on Drugs, and they hope the film will demonstrate how improved drug policies can help stop corruption and violence. “Breaking the Taboo” features a total of 176 well-known names, including former Presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, Columbian President Juan Manuel Santos, actress Kate Winslet, singer Natalie Imbruglia, Sir Branson, as well as other world leaders, drug experts and other household names.

Both Bransons visited eight countries such as Spain and Portugal where drug users receive treatment instead of jail time to provide examples of better drug policies. Morgan Freeman narrates the English version of the film, which launches its full-length version on YouTube today. A trailer, available since Nov. 16, has already been viewed more than 300,000 times.

It’s incredibly difficult to get significant theatrical distribution even for the most acclaimed feature documentary, and even then you can measure audiences in the tens of thousands,” Sundog managing director Johnny Web said. “By substituting cinema with YouTube, we believe we can reach millions of people rather than thousands, and create a virtuous cycle of promotion which will boost viewing in the global window.”

Sir Branson calls the legalization of marijuana “inevitable,” and says most officials in power secretly agree with him.

“I have hardly ever come across a politician that won’t say—off the record—what needs to be done,” he said. “In the end they just have to be brave.

President Obama is even featured in the film, saying prior to his reelection that a change in policy is needed.

We would be hopeful that in a second term Obama intends at the very least to start treating drugs as a healthcare problem, not a criminal problem,” Sir Branson said.

As for the younger Branson, he hopes the film will inspire all people, not just politicians, to take a different stance.

This film will open people’s eyes and make it easier for people who want to be brave and do something about it,” he said.