Grass

1999 Documentary

Woody Harrelson narrates this documentary about the history of marijuana in 20th century America. Beginning with clips from educational films and exploitation pictures that show how marijuana can lead to crime, insanity, and harder drugs, Grass also documents the exploits of Harry Anslinger, who became America's first drug czar and waged a lifelong war against marijuana use in the United States. As the repressive environment of the 1930s and 1940s gave way to the beat era of the 1950s and the hippie uprisings of the 1960s, attitudes towards marijuana became more lenient, and several states relaxed their laws regarding the drug; but the election of Ronald Reagan, and his wife Nancy's famous "Just Say No" campaign, put many pro-pot activists back in the starting blocks. Director Ron Mann takes a decidedly pro-marijuana position in this film, though he does so with more humor than militance (the end credits note "No hippies were harmed in the making of this film"). more..

Director: Ron Mann

Reviews

  • This jovial tour through changing attitudes toward cannibis is so plugged into pothead logic that the opening credits are rerun at the end.

    Lisa Schwarzbaum - Entertainment Weekly

    26 April 2013

  • A revealing, often amusing, sometimes disturbing look at the history and politics of marijuana use in American society.

    David Sterritt - Christian Science Monitor

    26 April 2013

  • He's (Mann) a solid historian and this film is full of fascinating facts, but he's a cultural critic at heart, and a good one at that.

    Ken Fox - TV Guide

    26 April 2013

  • Until something better comes along, we're just gonna have to keep the fires burning on this Ron Mann Joint.

    Marjorie Baumgarten - Austin Chronicle

    26 April 2013

  • So heavy-handed and blatant in its posturings and so incomplete at 73 minutes that you simply feel like you've been harangued more than educated.

    Shawn Levy - Portland Oregonian

    26 April 2013

Awards

  • Best Documentary

    Genie Awards (2001)