See Go Dutch!

Company Press Release

‘Sex, Drugs and Democracy’ Movie to be Sent to Congress

Director to Appear at Tower Records/Video in New York City

NEW YORK—

(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--April 16, 1998—

Sex, Drugs and Democracy, Red Hat Productions’ critically acclaimed, award-winning documentary about democracy in Holland, is being sent to Congress by Steven Markoff, chairman of A-Mark Financial Corporation (Forbes Magazine listed A-Mark as the 175^th largest privately held company in the United States, with sales exceeding $1 billion, in its 12/2/96 edition).

The mailing and a special free public screening on Thursday, April 23, in Washington, D.C., coincide with House deliberations on the anti-medical marijuana bill (H. Res. 372).

Jonathan Blank, co-owner of the New York based production company, Red Hat Productions and the director of Sex, Drugs and Democracy, will also be making an in-store appearance at Tower Records/Video at 383 Lafayette St. in New York City on Friday, May 1, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. with free poster giveaways.

In his cover letter for the mailing, which is going to every member of the House and the Senate, as well as the president, the vice president and all the cabinet secretaries, Markoff explains, "I’m writing you because current U.S. drug policies seem terribly flawed other democratic countries have successfully taken a pragmatic approach in their drug policy by treating certain drug use as a public health issue, stressing harm reduction, and differentiating soft drugs (marijuana) from hard drugs (cocaine and heroin)."

Sex, Drugs and Democracy takes an uncensored look at Holland which tolerates a legalized sex industry, the open sale of marijuana, total equality for gays, distribution of clean syringes and methadone to addicts, and government financed abortion, euthanasia and sex education for schoolchildren. But in Holland rates of drug use, addiction and AIDS transmission are extremely low, and the Dutch have the lowest rates of abortion, teenage pregnancy and imprisonment in the world.

The film played theatrically in 100 cities across America, grossing over a million dollars and garnering great reviews, extensive festival play and media coverage nationwide. It was described by Roger Ebert as "enthralling a seductive argument," "required viewing" by Alan Dershowitz, a provocative argument for fighting social taboos by making them legal" by Playboy’s Bruce Williamson, "and an intriguing and uncensored tour" by The Washington Post’s Rita Kempley.

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