Grass: The History of Marijuana (1999)

Grass: History of Marijuana is a 1999 Canadian documentary film directed by Ron Mann and narrated by actor Woody Harrelson. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and delves into the history of the United States government’s war on marijuana during the 20th century.

Here are the key points from the documentary:

1. Historical Context:
   • The film traces the history of US federal policies and social attitudes towards marijuana, beginning at the turn of the twentieth century.
   • Each decade is introduced with the official attitude towards marijuana at the time (e.g., “Marijuana will make you insane” or “Marijuana will make you addicted to heroin”).
   • The film highlights the amount of money spent during each period on the “war on marijuana.”
2. Harry Anslinger’s Influence:
   • Much of the blame for marijuana criminalization is placed on Harry Anslinger, the first American drug czar.
   • Anslinger promoted false information about marijuana to the American public as a means towards abolition.
3. Federal Approach and “War on Drugs”:
   • The film shows how criminalization became more entrenched after Richard Nixon declared a “War on Drugs” and created the Drug Enforcement Administration in 1973.
   • The “Just Say No” campaign introduced by Nancy Reagan and the acceleration of the War on Drugs by George H. W. Bush further contributed to the federal approach.
4. Archival Footage:
   • “Grass” primarily consists of archival footage, including public domain U.S. propaganda films and features like “Reefer Madness”.
   • It serves as a portrait of marijuana in popular media.

The film received positive reviews from critics, winning Canada’s Genie Award for Best Documentary