Marijuana is the most controversial drug of the 20th Century. Smoked by generations to little discernible ill effect, it continues to be reviled by many governments on Earth. In this Genie Award-winning documentary veteran Canadian director Ron Mann and narrator Woody Harrelson mix humour and historical footage together to recount how the United States has demonized a relatively harmless drug.
Marihuana, Marihuana (Grass), Травка, Историята на марихуаната, 글래스, Erva
Canada
Canada
"Marijuana is an addictive drug which produces in its users insanity, criminality, and death."
-Harry J. Anslinger
An amusing look at the history of laws against marijuana in the United States, narrated by Woody Harrelson of course. It isn't much of a documentary. It's mostly just clips through history of movies, anti-drug propaganda and speeches from politicians, but the whole thing is amusing. You can imagine the earlier the clips, the funnier the message behind them. I particularly enjoyed the era of "If you smoke it... you'll go insane!". I doubt you'll learn anything new, but it's not a bad way to spend 80 minutes of your time.
what i learned: weed is cool af and white people are whiny and racist pussies. but we already knew that.
It was only apropos on the night of 4/20 to revisit this Canadian documentary about pot and why the American government was so hell-bent against it for decades, only loosening restrictions in recent years. I believe it was 2003 that I first rented this from my college town's liberal videostore. It is a light documentary filled with licensed popular music, silly graphics and plenty of stock footage, narrated by Woody Harrelson... someone who I understand is more than familiar with Mary Jane.
As explained in the film: while marijuana was already in the United States by the early 20th century, when Mexicans brought it over the border when they emigrated over, they were discriminated against for the usual reasons and…
Feels like the kind of thing that they'd show every health class before YouTube became a thing. So yeah, it's dated but at least it's entertaining.
thought this was funny or at the least comedic
asked my teacher to turn on the subtitles and everyone looked at me like i just did three backflips in a row.
If I had a nickel for every time Woody Harrelson was in a weed film I would have two nickels not a lot but weird it happened twice.
Woody Harrelson saying “New York’s Prohibition-fighting mayor Fiorello LaGuardia” ASMR
Trying to resist the urge of calling this a half-baked pot doc, but if the shoe fits, well, there you have it. Doc is more a copy 'n paste job than a full-throated statement of its own. Nice historical footage though.
Were the creators high when they made this film? It's full of interesting facts, but also is a bit thin on overall content. Most annoying are the "myth" scenes which feel juvenile at best. I'm a fan of the film's message, but it's just not very well made. The lack of an ending really drives this point home.
A great primer if you know nothing about the history of weed in the united states. A little remedial if you do.
every president is a fascist bent on eliminating gay communists. long live Laguardia and the peanut man
but actually a very good and historically important doc
