Devil's Weed

Devil's Weed is the title of a forthcoming film by producer Curt Johnson and director Maura Flynn. It will apparently take a pro-tobacco slant in the guise of defending "smokers' rights," a term long used by public relations firms such as Burson-Marsteller working on behalf of the tobacco industry to defeat legislative efforts to protect people from the hazards of secondhand smoke. On behalf of Philip Morris, and with tens of millions of tobacco dollars, Burson-Marsteller organized the National Smokers Alliance, a "smokers' rights" front group.

The Minnesota chapter of the American Lung Association, which describes Maura Flynn "as pitchwoman for comedian Tim Slagle", ridiculed the proposed film in its blog. "A man walks into a Minneapolis bar. Suddenly, his civil liberties are gone! That seems to be the plot summary of 'Devil's Weed' ... What stole this poor man's civil liberties? Why the smoking ban, of course!", the ALA wrote.

Filmography
As of January 8, 2006, IMBd stated the "Plot Outline" as "A documentary that examines the loss of civil liberties associated with the public smoking ban in Minneapolis, Minnesota." The film's "Status" was given as "Filming."
 * Cinematography by Anthony Rodriguez.
 * Film Editing by Jeffrey Stickles.
 * Sound Department: David Canada.
 * Production Company: Speakeasy Video.

Marijuana
"Marihuana" (a.k.a. "Marihuana, the Devil's Weed" and "Marihuana, the Weed with Roots in Hell!"), a film produced in 1936, "was a companion piece to "Reefer Madness"." In brief, the story line is that "Some fun loving kids smoke weed, offered to them by a man that represents evil incarnate. The result is nude swimming, a drowning... and then things get even worse!" 

SourceWatch resources

 * Minneapolis smoking ban

2005

 * "The last line says it all...," American Lung Association of Minnesota, September 1, 2005.
 * "Digging up the roots of Devil's Weed," American Lung Association of Minnesota, September 2, 2005.
 * Mark Giga, "Taxpayers League Live! with David Strom," Taxpayers League of Minnesota, September 30, 2005.
 * Mark Giga, "Smoking bans bring Hollywood to Minnesota," Taxpayers League of Minnesota, October 14, 2005.
 * "Diary Of A Disaster" Page 3, The Smokers Club Inc.com (The United Pro Choice Smokers Rights Newsletter), (scroll down to October 15, 2005): "Filming started last week for the documentary Devil's Weed. Curt Johnson (producer of Michael Moore Hates America) and director Maura Flynn will show the effects of the Minneapolis smoking ban. The Onion, a weekly newspaper is running some advertising for us as well, we are working on the other papers as well."
 * "No Need for 'Devils Weed'," American Lung Association of Minnesota, October 20, 2005: "The American Lung Association of Minnesota (ALAMN) has been contacted to offer its views on the clean air ordinances that have been recently adopted in a number of Minnesota cities and counties. The offer came from independent film producer Curt Johnson, who is in Minneapolis to film a documentary under the working title Devil’s Weed, which its makers describe as '...a journey into the black heart of America's New Prohibition.'"
 * "Right Wing Fave Smokes Out Hypocrisy in Minneapolis. Hollywood Crew Catches Drift for New Documentary, Devil’s Weed," Acme Comedy Company, November 2005: "Tim caught the eye of documentary producers Curt Johnson and Maura Flynn (Common Threads: Stories from the Quilt, Thoth, Michael Moore Hates America). They’ll be taping him for their latest venture, Devil’s Weed at Acme on November 3. Devil’s Weed is taking a witty and thought-provoking stab at America’s new prohibition: smoking bans. ... Though a Libertarian at heart, Tim is a perennial star at Republican political events like David Horowitz’s Restoration Weekend (the right’s version of the infamous Democrat’s Renaissance Weekend). Bill Kristol, Matt Drudge, Trent Lott and Lindsay Graham have all caught his act. An equal opportunity incendiary, Tim performed at the National Atheists Convention in 2003. He’s also a particular favorite on MTV, Showtime, right wing talk radio, comedy clubs, gun rallies and biker bars nation-wide."
 * Craig Westover, Editorial: "Documentary to tell smoking ban tale," Twin Cities.com / St. Paul Pioneer Press, November 2, 2005. The film Devil's Weed "(fall 2006 release) will chronicle the smoking ban fallout in the Twin Cities and examine the ban trend across the country — 'America's New Prohibition'."
 * Craig Westover, "A few thoughts on the Hennepin County Commissioner's Meeting," craigwestover.blogspot.com, November 16, 2005: "The crew filming 'Devil’s Weed' was also present at the hearing, taking advantage of open meeting rules to try and get smoking ban proponents on camera to make their cases for a smoking ban. Health organization officials, MPAAT representatives, and pro-ban legislators have been reluctant to take part in the documentary. ... It should be noted that despite the lack of local participation of ban supporters in the Devil’s Weed project, producer Curt Johnson notes the crew has interviews set up with epidemiologists, cardiologists and medical professionals around the country to provide the public health point of view. Among the criteria in choosing these professionals was that none have any connection to tobacco companies."
 * Drew Carter, Devil's Weed Film Update: "Poor Phil's (Dennis) Murphy to be in smoking ban documentary. 'Devil’s Weed' contends that bans cut into civil liberties," The Smokers Club Inc.com, November 22, 2005: "Editing of the film will begin in January, and it’s expected to premiere at the Toronto Film Fest in September 2006. ... Although Johnson claimed the film won’t take a hard line against smoking bans, Flynn did ask some leading questions, such as, 'Who are the creeps who want this ban?' and 'Is there something elitist about these bans?'"

2006

 * taptap, "Oscar-Winner Curt Johnson shoots at Marysburg" (Books), Marysburg Books Blog, Minneapolis, Minnesota, January 14, 2006: "Several interviews for Curt’s latest documentary projects on smoking bans (Devil’s Weed) and animal rights (not yet titled) have been taped at the Burg. Curt, co-producer of 'Michael Moore Hates American' [sic], and Oscar-winner for the 2002 Documentary 'Thoth', usually works on 2 or 3 scripts at a time, often at Marysburg."
 * Curt Johnson Questions Ann Berlin of the Animal Liberation Front January 23, 2006.