Very disappointed :(

Truly Dreadful Film

Self-important, over-dramatic, uninspired.

The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

For a narcotic which has been proved by scientists to leave its user "happy...intoxicated...and, finally, sleepy", this documentary says that marijuana seems to be the one drug to have gotten an unfair rap since it first appeared on the North America scene in the early 1900s. Initially brought into Texas by Mexican labor workers, and into New Orleans by port sailors in 1914, the U.S. Bureau of Narcotics seized upon pot's early popularity, drumming it into the public consciousness--and into Washington's ear--that puffing on the devilish weed would result in instant insanity. As years passed, the law, led by Narcotics Commissioner Harry J. Anslinger, a self-imposed "Father of the Drug War", made certain pot's reputation went from bad to worse. Each state in the union banned its presence, while Hollywood churned out exploitation scare flicks (and entertainers got busted for using). This colorful, lively film isn't exactly an insightful probe into the history of drugs; it's quick and clever, but too cute to be taken seriously (and ends rather abruptly). Director Ron Mann condescends amusingly towards the politicians who have opposed grass, and his use of archival film and TV footage makes sure that all straight adults look like irrational duds and hypocrites. Still, some of the points scored for marijuana's side are worth considering, even though Mann's film seems just a high-end project. While the results are canny, one is left wanting of more...substance? **1/2 from ****

I highly recommend watching this documentary and think everyone in America should see it at least once. It keeps you glued to the screen throughout the entire film and uses interesting footage, music, interviews, and clips to tell the story. The scenes are gracefully intertwined with an almost ironic perspective. Before I saw Grass, I had no idea how marijuana became illegal. The story starts from the beginning, at the turn of the century, when Americans first were introduced to the herb unfortunately by the people that they were trying to drive out. After that it shows the American hysteria and hype, fueled by the government, gradually turning the American perspective of harmless weed into a nightmarish monster drug that some still have the view of. It is those people who need to see this documentary more than anyone!

This is a great documentary, which pieces together old government propaganda videos against marijuana, along with footage of scientific documentation and/or public view to the contrary. While clips from propaganda films ranging over 70 years, including the "classic" Reefer Madness, are funny because the modern audience knows how wrong they are, it's also troubling when the film presents the increased anti-marijuana budgets and bills passed, showing that the leadership of the past really didn't know anything about the drug and believed the government's films and "scientific evidence" (e.g. marijuana causes insanity, marijuana is a stepping stone for heroin) as fact. Featuring almost no commentary, the film comes off as a pro-marijuana documentary only because it shows how uninformed and gullible the government has been, and though it's mostly all official government statistics and films, it's still informing and entertaining, the latter unfortunately for all the wrong reasons.

I found this to be a lousy documentary. That despite the fact that I like Woody Harrelson and have been fascinated by our backwards-ass drug laws for a long time now.I do not smoke pot. Sure, I have (who hasn't?), but I did not enjoy it and prefer to be "in control".Still, the criminalization of marijuana makes me want fill my backyard with the damn plant in protest of such corrupt and unfounded domestic policy.Of course, we know why marijuana is illegal - partly because some folks like to regulate morality (the same ones pushing sodomy laws); but mostly because it benefits the powers that be. Such a large scale "war on drugs" stirs up the economy, politicians make money on kickbacks & organized crime has a field day! Meanwhile the drugs get more dangerous, the streets get more dangerous, and the Government gets richer while gradually breaking down our rights.That said, "Grass" doesn't paint the picture well. It relies too much on eye candy and distracting comic relief while it meanders around the juicy stuff - the criminalization of marijuana! I don't know why the filmmakers thought they needed to spice things up with cartoons, and an endless stream of old anti-drug reels (at first they are amusing but after a while it's just repetitive and detracts from the flow of things); the story itself is very intriguing & could have carried more screen time. Not only that, but some of the more interesting, deeper motives of the drug war are not explored whatsoever. It's a very superficial look at the drug war; only slightly informative and entertaining at times, but hardly what it could be. Perhaps your meant to watch it high, because clean & sober I found it boring and unfocused...