The thing is, I hate most documentaries. This is similar to my dislike of Brussels sprouts. At first I didn’t like them and then was always grateful I watched/ate them. Happens. Every. Time. Time.
Grass greener The documentary ostensibly tracks hip-hop legend Fab Five on his sometimes-disturbing journey to discover the truth behind the prohibition of cannabis in the US. The documentary begins in 1920s New Orleans Jazz clubs, where Louis Armstrong and Billie Holiday were constantly avoiding arrest due to racist policies. It concludes with interviews of rap legends Snoop and B-Real from Cypress Hill, who expertly discuss cannabis’ current status.
Netflix also offers perspectives by cannabis advocates, lawyers and activists. The most heartbreaking examples are those of families that have been torn apart because of America’s unjustified and pervasive obsession with convicting minor marijuana offenders. There’s so much to absorb.
Harry Anslinger, first Director of the Bureau of Narcotics and a cartoonishly racist, is the villain of this riveting investigation. Anslinger, a political appointee, enforced fake policies and ignored scientific studies that were directed at two specific groups in the United States still fighting for social justice. These are African Americans (and Mexican immigrants). It was even changed intentionally from the name “cannabis,” to the word “marijuana,” to connect it with Mexicans, who are feared for crossing the border. The whole thing is as outrageous as it’s infuriating, but considering the US societal climate, this shouldn’t be surprising. Harry Anslinger is not that much different than Jeff Sessions who enforced the harsh child separation policies at the US-Mexico border under the former administration. This is a hint. He’s definitely not.
There’s more! You can find good people too. Fiorello laGuardia was perhaps the most surprising. He commissioned a cannabis report that disproved Anslinger’s absurd claims. The documentary on the indisputable evidence contained in LaGuardia’s report revealed that “instead of science the government chose racism, knowingly, and with a willing heart, to choose propaganda.” This was the opinion of one of the subjects. Anslinger was the first to link cannabis with evil. Richard Nixon’s War On Drugs followed by Ronald Reagan and Nancy Reagan’s “Just Say No” campaign, then Bill Clinton’s Crime Bill. It was all a big lie.
When I got home, my adrenaline was pumped up. Grass greener Jack Herer’s revelatory lyrics The Emperor Does Not Wear Clothes This book is a truth bomb that has blown the lid on the untruths the US Government had propagated about marijuana for over a hundred years. The documentary left me with a better understanding not just of American history but of its unjust jurisprudence. Always.
The Grass is Greener It should be mandatory viewing not only for marijuana lovers but for anyone who loves our country, democracy or justice. It’s a great documentary. Unsurprisingly, my craving for Brussels sprouts has increased. The munchies are definitely on.
This story was originally published in the print edition of Cannabis Now.