Grass

Woody Harrelson narrates this colorful documentary chronicling the raw deal marijuana has received from the minions of justice and upholders of decency over the years. Refreshing in its clear advocacy in favor of the evil weed, the program drags occasionally at 80 minutes, but the history of America's war on pot (during which far more taxpayer money than cannabis was flushed down the toilet) is well referenced, responsibly presented, and peopled with fascinating characters. Take Harry J. Anslinger, for example, the fed who gave his all to scaring the bejeezus out of people. When the end of Prohibition threatened to put an end to Anslinger's and his G-men's careers, dirty Harry organized a spirited, sensational campaign of disinformation to give middle America a new cultural bogeyman to replace Demon Rum: the Reefer Man. Citing chapter and verse of government documents and malefactors' own words in support of his condemnation of governmental policies vis à vis marijuana regulation, filmmaker Ron Mann's Grass offers a thought-provoking reassessment of 20th century American drug policies. Go ahead, strike a blow for intellectual freedom and add this officially "R"-rated feature to your D.A.R.E. collection or display it at your YA kiosk. The DVD edition includes a deleted scene, theatrical trailer, and two handy reference sources: a state-by-state guide to pot laws (invaluable for planning that next conference trip), and a gallery of High Times magazine covers, an excellent source for striking wallpaper for the adventurous info-scientist's computer monitor. Recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (M. Tribby)