Written by
The Union: The Business Behind Getting High Review: A-
Pros: Discusses a confusing issue from a serious perspective; lots of expert testimonies.
Cons: Somewhat one-sided; doesn’t include information about the current U.S. administration.
Last night, the girlfriend and I rented “The Union: The Business Behind Getting High,” a recently released documentary by first-time Canadian director Brett Harvey.
The Union explores the underground business world of marijuana. By starting with a brief history of American cannabis prohibition, the documentary eases viewers into a complex political and cultural issue, discussing the real-world economic realities of marijuana production, distribution, and use.
The documentary is named after a loosely-organized “union” of marijuana growers in British Columbia, Canada – where much of the documentary is filmed. Members of the growing community are interviewed, and some of them even show off their secret green gardens. It’s interesting to hear actual marijuana growers talk about legalization – some are actually opposed to it, since it would cut into their profits.
The Union is not a how-to-grow video, and it doesn’t have any Cheech and Chong-style jokes. It does, however, have interviews with dozens of pro- and anti-legalization politicians, economists, doctors, and celebrities. Tommy Chong does make an appearance, but he doesn’t crack a smile.
The documentary’s position is that the current gangs that grow and traffic the drugs are much like those that appeared in large U.S. cities during the prohibition on alcohol in the 1930s.
The Union has won awards at over 20 Canadian film festivals, and has been broadcast on TV. You can watch it online for free, too (first link on the left).
Overall, if you’re part of the pro-legalization movement, you should watch The Union to arm yourself with some intelligent, factual information to help your friends understand your position. If you are not in favor of legalizing cannabis, I’d encourage you to watch The Union and reconsider. It’s interesting, logical, and helps clear away some common misconceptions about a confusing plant.