I came across this last night while sorting through the crappy movies on Netflix.
I had never heard of it and did not know what to think about it as I thought the title was odd.
I started it up anyway and man, oh man, am I glad I did.
This is a VERY intelligent documentary and one thing I found recurrently amazing: they hit on pretty much every topic I do with regards to marijuana prohibition, out of control cops and so forth, the prison industry, and they add banking and our mirage of a 2-party system and they blow it out of the water.
From the website synopsis (website linked below)
Journeying across the North American landscape, "The Culture High" is the riveting story that tears into the very fibre of modern day marijuana prohibition to reveal the truth behind the arguments and motives governing both those who support and those who oppose the existing pot laws. With budgets to fight the war reaching billions and arrests for simple possession skyrocketing to nearly a million annually, the debate over marijuana's legality has reached epic proportions.
Utilizing the quirky yet profound nature of its predecessor, ""The Union: The Business Behind Getting High"", "The Culture High" raises the stakes with some of today's biggest names, unprecedented access to footage previously unobtainable, and incredibly moving testimonials from both sides of the spectrum. Top celebrities, former undercover agents, university professors and a slew of unforgettable characters from all points of view come together for an amusing yet insightful portrait of cannabis prohibition and the grasp it has on society as a whole. "The Culture High" will strip search the oddity of human nature and dare to ask the question: What exactly is going on here?
TRAILER:
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Cenk Uyger is featured prominently in the documentary, as are other members of the Young Turks and here is a detailed interview he has done about this film/documentary.
Find this on Netflix and watch it.
Again, this is a documentary: it is a very very (I was gonna say 'highly' but this is serious) educational film.
I cannot encourage you to find it and watch it, or at least add it to a 'must watch' list. I can't recall making this sort of admonition that frequently.
The opening sequence is very harsh: a police raid on a home in which they terrorize a family, KILL their dog and find a little weed and a grinder. The dad gets charged with paraphernalia possession and fined $300 after the nightmare visited upon them. It's REALLY horrible. Thanks, marijuana prohibition!
Beyond that, I do not need to regurgitate the essence of the film: they systematically tackle everything I write about in about an hour and 45 minutes.
Far better than I can.
AND they tie it all together.
It was very popular at numerous film festivals.
Find a lot more at The Culture High.com
Enjoy!