Overall, in hindsight, I’m a very ignorant, stupid man, and I did not need to leave Hollywood, where I literally lived the life of a Hollywood success story. Good money, fame, fortune, I had it all going for me. I feel so embarrassed and so ashamed. I apologize, and whatever you see fit for our future, you know I’ll do it and do it with a good attitude. I’m just begging you to have mercy.

That’s actor Kevin Gage speaking to a judge after the federal government indicted him for starting a large-scale marijuana grow operation in San Francisco.

He thought it was legal and had even spoken with the district attorney. San Francisco had declared itself a medical marijuana sanctuary city but cops showed up within months and feds soon after.

That year he played an undercover DEA agent who busts a drug dealer in 2001’s Blow.

I learned this from KCRW’s podcast Welcome to Los Angeles.