Back in the day, cannabis in movies was all doom and gloom. Think “Reefer Madness” – this term was steeped in unfounded fear and stereotypes. But times have changed and so has the portrayal of cannabis on screen. From a symbol of rebellion in the counterculture era to a more nuanced character in modern plots, cannabis has had quite the journey in film and TV. It’s no longer just a backdrop but rather an influential part of many main storylines.
In the mid-1930s, propaganda surrounding the use of cannabis was introduced in the film, “Reefer Madness,” prompting this eventual ban of showing narcotics in films. At the time, the recreational use of cannabis was stigmatized as a drug used by the “racially inferior” and soon thereafter, fear mongering and prejudice about cannabis and its users became rampant. For the following two decades, cannabis was heavily stigmatized on and off screen, with harsher laws surrounding the use and portrayal of the plant being imposed.
The 60s and 70s was all about breaking the norms and cannabis played a big part. It went from being taboo to becoming a symbol of freedom and creativity. Films like Easy Wider and Up in Smoke became quintessential countercultural classics and dared go where many filmmakers couldn’t before.
In the 80s and 90s, the role of cannabis in movies and T.V. shifted from the ‘bad guy’ to a more complex character, with cannabis getting more and more screen time. Timeless classics like Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Dazed and Confused, Friday, and Half-Baked all brought cannabis culture into the mainstream spotlight and continued to push creative boundaries around cannabis in film.
Fast forward to the 2000s and there was a whole new landscape for cannabis in media. With changing laws and attitudes, cannabis earned a starring role in many mainstream media productions in film and T.V. This era gave rise to cult classics like Harold and Kumar…, Pineapple Express, Jay and Silent Bob…, and How High which continued to showcase high-jinks in high-definition.
This paradigm shift on cannabis in movies undoubtedly influenced the radical transformation of public views, opinions, and even laws pertaining to cannabis and its usage. From a feared substance to a symbol of creativity, the portrayal of cannabis in media has always mirrored society’s changing views and norms on this now beloved plant. As cannabis advocacy and legislation continues to increase, we can likely expect more diverse and complex depictions of cannabis in film and T.V. for many more years to come.
Looking for a chill way to spend a night in? Grab one of our ultra-comfortable hoodies, perfect for movie nights or cozy kickbacks and cue up these cannabis-inspired visual creations:
- Cooked with Cannabis: It's not just about getting high; it's high-end cuisine with a twist.
- Disjointed: A lighthearted comedy that touches on serious issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder and highlights the medicinal benefits of the marijuana plant.
- Weed the People: A heart-touching look at medical cannabis, especially for those battling cancer
- Family Business: A French show turns about a family-owned kosher butcher shop turned cannabis store, infusing family drama with a dose of humor.
- Weeds: A dark comedy about a single mother living in suburbia who begins dealing marijuana in an effort to maintain her family's upper middle class lifestyle after her husband's death.
- Grass is Greener: Dig deep into cannabis, music, and racial politics in America.
- Murder Mountain: An intense look into Humboldt County's dark underbelly of cannabis farms and cultivation
- Atlanta: This dramedy about 3 family friends navigating a strange, seemingly otherworldly Atlanta hip hop scene.
- High Maintenance: This American dramedy follows a cannabis courier (played as he delivers his product to clients in Brooklyn, NY.
- Bong Appetit: A competitive cooking show where high-end cuisine meets high-end cannabis.
- Broad City: A popular comedy about two friends who face all sorts of misadventures related to frivolity and carelessness that comes with staying in the New York City.