The infamous video of Toronto's deceased former mayor, Rob Ford, smoking crack cocaine is now public, and for the first time can be viewed outside a courtroom. 
 
 The video, shot in February 2013, was released Thursday morning after an extortion charge was withdrawn against Alexander (Sandro) Lisi, Ford's friend and former driver. It shows Ford swearing and mumbling while holding a crack pipe in his left hand, which he lights up and draws on, releasing a wisp of smoke. 
 
 On the video, Ford speaks with Elena Basso, who remains off-camera. Basso lives at 15 Windsor Dr., located in the west Toronto suburb of Etobicoke, where the video is said to have been filmed. 
 
 The video was entered as evidence in a court proceeding against Lisi, who was accused of extortion over his attempts to retrieve the cellphone that contained the video which proved to be politically explosive for Ford. 
 
 Complete transcript below 
 
 Media first reported the video's existence in May 2013, sparking a year of controversy in Toronto — and around the world — during which Ford repeatedly denied that he smoked crack cocaine. 
 
 The tape of former Toronto mayor Rob Ford smoking crack was made public Thursday after an extortion charge against his friend and former driver Sandro Lisi was dropped. Ford died in March. (Trevor Dunn/CBC) 
 
 The scandal triggered a police investigation. Eventually investigators discovered the video on a laptop seized as part of a guns-and-gangs raid. Toronto's police chief at the time, Bill Blair, declared he was "disappointed" after viewing the recording. 
 
 Ford was never charged. 
 
 He eventually admitted to substance abuse and checked into a rehab facility in the Muskoka region, north of Toronto. 
 
 He emerged from treatment and resumed his bid for re-election as mayor. 
 
 But in September 2014 he was forced to withdraw from the mayoral race, announcing he had been diagnosed with cancer. His brother Doug replaced him on the ballot but lost to John Tory. Rob Ford ran for his old seat on council and was elected. 
 
 Ford's health, however, continued to deteriorate and he died of cancer in March of this year. 
 
 On Thursday, Superior Court Justice Ian MacDonnell said dropping the charge against Lisi "closes a rather tumultuous chapter in our city's civic life." 
 
 Transcript of video 
 
 The following is a transcript of the Rob Ford crack video prepared by Crown prosecutors. 
 
 Rob FORD: (Inaudible). 
 
 Elena BASSO: That's why he wants to be involved in everything --- 
 
 FORD: --- I know (inaudible) --- 
 
 BASSO: --- he wants to fight everybody's battles --- 
 
 FORD: --- (inaudible) --- 
 
 BASSO: --- and, and, it's going to, excuse me, kill you. 
 
 FORD: (Inaudible) kill f--kin' --- 
 
 BASSO: --- don't do it. 
 
 FORD: The kids (inaudible) --- 
 
 BASSO: --- the kids are important to you --- 
 
 FORD: --- yeah --- 
 
 BASSO: --- that's, that's, that's what drives you baby, that's what I love. 
 
 FORD: (Inaudible) 
 
 BASSO: That's why we love you. 
 
 FORD: (Inaudible). 
 
 BASSO: Okay. 
 
 FORD: I don't know (inaudible) Kathy --- 
 
 BASO: --- your children, your family, your kids --- 
 
 FORD: --- (inaudible) --- 
 
 BASSO: --- your f--kin' footballers --- 
 
 FORD: --- (inaudible) --- 
 
 BASSO: --- your, your kids that play football, that's what drives you. Family, kids --- 
 
 FORD: --- f--k (inaudible) the minorities dude --- 
 
 BASSO: --- f--kin' --- 
 
 FORD: --- and I'm right wing. I f--kin' take these kids under my wing --- 
 
 BASSO: --- you're right wing? 
 
 FORD: No they say I'm this right wing --- 
 
 BASSO: --- oh yeah --- 
 
 FORD: --- radical f--kin' guy --- 
 
 BASSO: --- oh yeah, sure, sure, sure --- 
 
 FORD: --- yeah I'm (inaudible) --- 
 
 BASSO: --- yeah sure, oh yeah. 
 
 FORD: (Inaudible) --- 
 
 BASSO: --- then what the f--k is the Liberals then? 
 
 FORD: (Inaudible) Liban, Liban (inaudible). 
 
 BASSO: (Inaudible) Trudeau right there, I'd like, I'd like to get that f--kin' Justin Trudeau and shove my foot as far up his ass --- 
 
 FORD: --- (inaudible) --- 
 
 BASSO: --- 'cause I'm sure it goes real far --- 
 
 FORD: --- (inaudible) --- 
 
 BASSO: ---I'm sure my f--kin' he'll tickle his f--kin' nose hairs with my foot --- 
 
 FORD: --- (inaudible) --- 
 
 BASSO: --- up his ass 'cause he's such a f--kin' shit digger, man --- 
 
 FORD: --- (inaudible) fat d--k --- 
 
 BASSO: --- I hate Trudeau, man. 
 
 FORD: --- (inaudible) --- 
 
 BASSO: --- f--kin' bulls--t. 
 
 FORD: --- (inaudible) f--kin' on, bro. 
 
 UNKNOWN MALE: Hello? 
 
 FORD: I don't know if that cameras not on (inaudible). 
 
 BASSO: No --- 
 
 UNKNOWN MALE: --- hold on, hold on --- 
 
 BASSO: --- it's night. 

 File- This July 15, 2014, file photo shows Mayor Rob Ford preparing to participate in a Toronto mayoral debate in Toronto. A notorious video showing Ford smoking crack cocaine that sparked a storm of... (Associated Press) 
 
 File- This July 15, 2014, file photo shows Mayor Rob Ford preparing to participate in a Toronto mayoral debate in Toronto. A notorious video showing Ford smoking crack cocaine that sparked a storm of controversy and marred the tenure of the former mayor of Canada's largest city, was released Thursday,... (Associated Press) 
 
 TORONTO (AP) — A notorious video showing late Toronto politician Rob Ford smoking crack cocaine that sparked a storm of controversy and marred the tenure of the former mayor of Canada's largest city, was released Thursday to the public. 
 
 A Toronto court lifted a ban on publication of the video, shot in February 2013 and later seized by the police, after an extortion charge was withdrawn Thursday against Sandro Lisi, Ford's friend and former driver. It shows Ford swearing and mumbling while holding what appears to be a crack pipe, which he lights and draws on. 
 
 "Mr. Lisi, with this I take it that we have reached the close of a rather tumultuous chapter in the civic life of this city," said Justice Ian MacDonnell, as he closed the case. 
 
 The international spotlight fell on Ford in May 2013, when the Toronto Star and the U.S. website Gawker reported the existence of the video, igniting revelations about Ford's drinking and illegal drug problems. At the time, Ford denied the existence of the video, saying he could not comment on a video "that I have never seen or does not exist." He later backtracked when police said they had obtained it. 
 
 Although he became the subject of a police investigation, Ford was never charged with a crime, but he eventually admitted to substance abuse and checked into a rehab facility. 
 
 After undergoing treatment, he resumed his bid for re-election as mayor. However, in September 2014, he withdrew from the mayoral race, announcing he had been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. He died earlier this year at age 46. 
 
 The video had been played in court as evidence at the preliminary hearing for Lisi, who was charged with allegedly trying to extort a now convicted gang member to obtain the video, which was a cellphone clip. 
 
 Lisi had been scheduled to stand trial on the extortion charge in September. But prosecutor John Patton said a resolution was reached with Lisi's lawyers on the matter in July. 
 
 As part of the resolution, Lisi has agreed to abide by certain conditions, which include keeping the peace, maintaining good behavior and to not contact Liban Siyad and Mohamed Siad, whom he had been accused of extorting. 
 
 Patton said the charge was being withdrawn due to the "current frailties of the case," including Siyad and Siad's lack of co-operation, and the fact that Ford has since passed away.
– A notorious video showing late Toronto politician Rob Ford smoking crack cocaine that sparked a storm of controversy and marred the tenure of the former mayor of Canada's largest city was released Thursday to the public. A Toronto court lifted a ban on publication of the video, shot in February 2013 and later seized by the police, after an extortion charge was withdrawn Thursday against Sandro Lisi, Ford's friend and former driver. It shows Ford swearing and mumbling while holding what appears to be a crack pipe, which he lights and draws on, reports the AP. "Mr. Lisi, with this I take it that we have reached the close of a rather tumultuous chapter in the civic life of this city," said Justice Ian MacDonnell, as he closed the case. The international spotlight fell on Ford in May 2013, when the Toronto Star and Gawker reported the existence of the video, igniting revelations about Ford's drinking and illegal drug problems. At the time, Ford denied the existence of the video, saying he could not comment on a video "that I have never seen or does not exist." He later backtracked when police said they had obtained it. Although he became the subject of a police investigation, Ford was never charged with a crime, but he eventually checked into a rehab facility. After undergoing treatment, he resumed his bid for re-election as mayor. However, in September 2014, he withdrew from the mayoral race, announcing he had been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. He died earlier this year at age 46. You can view the video here.