Cannabis in the Media Pt. 1: Movies
Since the beginning of legalization and decriminalization of cannabis across the country, the frequency and the way in which it has been portrayed in popular media has changed and generally been reflective of society’s view on the subject at the time, whether it be in movies, television, music, or books. Find a list of great viewing when altered here.
This is the first part in a series on how cannabis has affected and been portrayed in popular media. This article will specifically cover how cannabis has been portrayed in the movies, by highlighting significant cannabis-related movies over the years and how cannabis was portrayed in each of them.
Reefer Madness (1936)
The very first (and most notorious) appearance of cannabis on film dates back to 1936 with the release of Reefer Madness, a short anti-drug propaganda film that was sponsored by a church prohibitionist group. The movie is about a group of teenagers who succumb to the dangerous effects of cannabis and consequently go on a “fatal marathon of debauchery,” including murder, rape, hallucinations, and even suicide. Of course, in light of what we know about cannabis today, the premise of this movie is absurd, if not laughable. However, unfortunately for the time (and decades to follow) many believed (including the U.S. government) this was an accurate portrayal of the effects of cannabis. Shortly after the release of this film, the Marihuana Tax Act (1937) was passed, which taxed and regulated the importation, cultivation, possession and/or distribution of cannabis, including requiring importers to register and pay a tax. This law was later ruled to be unconstitutional.
High School Confidential (1958)
Over 20 years later, the negative stereotypes and misinformation presented in Reefer Madness still persisted in the 1958 movie, High School Confidential! This movie was about an undercover cop who goes into a high school to crack down on the presence of illegal narcotics—specifically cannabis.
Easy Rider (1969)
By the 1960s, along with the hippie movement, cannabis use was much more common and socially acceptable, at least within a certain segment of society. Easy Rider is about a couple motorcyclists who travel across the American Southwest from L.A. to New Orleans after selling some cocaine to drug dealers. Besides cannabis, the pair also experiment with LSD (acid) towards the end of the movie. Even though this movie’s portrayal of cannabis isn’t as dangerous as depicted before, it was still associating its use with certain types of people, typically outside of mainstream society (i.e., the hippies).
Fritz the Cat (1972)
By the 1970s, society’s view on cannabis had lightened up a bit, so the way cannabis was portrayed in movies became more comedic and satirical for the first time. Fritz the Cat is an animated movie about a college student who is a cat named “Fritz” who travels across the country and indulges in numerous drugs, including cannabis. Not only was this the first film to receive an ‘X’ rating (now NC-17) at the time, it was the first animated movie to show cannabis use. This movie set the stage and foundation for future adult animated shows, like The Simpsons, South Park, and Family Guy.
Cheech & Chong (1978)
Later in 1978, two iconic cannabis comedians (Cheech & Chong) made their movie debut in the film, Up In Smoke. The movie is about a couple of musicians who unknowingly smuggle a van (made entirely of cannabis) from Mexico to L.A. Like Fritz the Cat, this movie was very satirical and comedic. The pair made several sequels following this, all of which were cannabis humor-themed.
ADVERTISEMENT
Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)
By the 1980s, current events and politics put drug use in a bad light, whether it be Nancy Reagan’s “Just Say No” campaign, the “War on Drugs,” or the AIDS epidemic. However, this did not stop the movie studios from producing movies showing cannabis use in a more favorable light. In Fast Times at Ridgemont High, a very young Sean Penn plays a “stoner/surfer” high school student who uses cannabis regularly. Penn’s performance as a typical “stoner” has been emulated in movies ever since (see Brad Pitt in True Romance).
Even though they weren’t directly about cannabis or cannabis users (like Cheech & Chong) many movies of the 1980s still showed some cannabis use in the movie. Examples of such include Caddyshack (1980), Revenge of the Nerds (1984), Back to the Future (1985), and The Breakfast Club (1985), just to name a few.
1990s
By the mid-1990s, cannabis movies were reflective of the times and featured more racial diversity, such as Friday (1995) and Half Baked (1998), both of which featured Black actors in lead roles. In addition, a number of now-classic stoner movies came out during this decade, such as Dazed and Confused (1993), The Big Lebowski (1998) and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998) based on the famous 1972 novel by Hunter S. Thompson.
2000s – Present
Since the 2000s, many cannabis-related movies tend to feature characters more akin to the white “traditional” stoner of earlier films like Fast Times. These include films such as Dude, Where’s My Car? (2000) and Grandma’s Boy (2006). However, in 2004, Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle was released and injected some Indian and Asian representation into cannabis comedies. This had two sequels.
In 2007, the film Knocked Up (about a man who unexpectedly becomes a father) showed that cannabis and weed humor don’t necessarily have to be the primary focus of the movie, but rather incidental to the characters dealing with serious issues in life (such as pregnancy).
The depiction of cannabis in movies has greatly evolved over time, and generally been reflective of society’s attitude about the topic at the time. Initially, cannabis was depicted as something very dangerous that can literally make a person go insane. By the 1960s and 70s, society’s view on the drug wasn’t nearly as extreme, but it still hadn’t been accepted into mainstream society. In the 1980s, characters in movies commonly smoke cannabis, but this isn’t the focus of the movie. It wasn’t until the 1990s (when cannabis was first legalized in California) that cannabis and cannabis-related humor became the focus of some movies. As more states legalize cannabis and it becomes even more socially acceptable, it will be interesting to see how movies change and are reflective of this.
A more comprehensive list of cannabis-related movies can be found here.
ADVERTISMENT
Chilliums
Chilliums are small hand pipes typically made of glass, wood, or clay. Like one-hitters, they are cylindrically shaped with a bowl for the cannabis on one end and the mouthpiece on the other. Like the spoon pipes, chilliums are great for portability, but provide a stronger direct hit, so chilliums might be preferred by regular smokers.
Water Pipes (Bongs & Bubblers)
There are two different basic types of water pipes—bongs and bubblers. The main difference between the two being size. Both use water to cool the smoke, making for a much smoother hit, but bongs are much larger, offering bigger more flavorful hits, but is less portability than a bubbler, which is essentially a smaller version of a bong. Water pipes are usually made of glass, but also come in silicone.
Vaporizer Pipes
Finally, vaporizer pipes (often called “vapes”) have become very popular over the past few years. Unlike regular pipes, vapes use electricity to heat the cannabis. Consequently, it allows you to get the maximum amount of THC without all the smoke. However, vapes are much more expensive and harder to clean than most regular pipes. In addition, for some users vaping just isn’t as enjoyable or rewardable as smoking cannabis.
ADVERTISEMENT
