GRASS: Gateway to the Facts — The poster for the documentary “Grass” is reminiscent of a pulp fiction book cover or a “B” movie poster, but the content is sharp, witty and filled with little known facts and film clips.

See Henry Ford use a sledge hammer to pound on his hemp-mobile — without leaving a dent! See actual footage of a college student smoking pot in a lab experiment — and enjoying it! See drug addicts Richard Nixon and Elvis Presley shake hands in the Oval office! You won’t believe your eyes, or the next lying excuse for an ad you see from ONDCP/PDFA!

Ron Mann's film Grass chronicles the federal government’s extensive and costly war on marijuana. The film was released in 2000 and is available on DVD.

Grass, a film by Ron Mann

Skillfully moving through the decades, Mann details how the first drug czar, Harry J. Anslinger, manipulated facts and used the tabloid press to scare and intimidate Americans into believing marijuana was a threat to their way of life; how that tactic was used by future administrations; and how costly it may have been for the nation. It illustrates how marijuana was once something the states governed, and how the federal government convinced the states to relinquish jurisdiction.

One of Mann's methods to expose the government’s role in demonizing and stigmatizing marijuana is his skillful breakdown of the "official truths" propagated in various eras during the war against marijuana. Some of these official truths try to instill social shame, like "if you smoke it, you will undermine national security" or "if you smoke it, you will withdraw from society". Punchy graphics display facts about the various historical events and legislation that defined America's relationship with pot- from jazz clubs to suburban middle class adults. As the users of marijuana evolved - subsequently changing the kinds of people arrested for marijuana crimes - the stigma of using marijuana changed, and the government was forced to switch tactics.

Mann’s methodical depiction of the war against marijuana is fraught with humorous moments, and Harrelson’s narration will keep audiences attentive.

The points and positions raised by Mann should interest smoker and non-smoker alike, and the monetary waste of fighting this war may cause a few heads to shake. While never advocating the use of marijuana, Mann and Harrelson provide an excellent examination of the way marijuana has been treated by the federal government, the resources that have been expended, and in some cases, the lives that have been irrevocably changed by marijuana policy.

This film is a must see for the casual smoker, the curious, the activist, or even the opponent of marijuana use and decriminalization. The film closes with a voice-over from New York Mayor Fiorella La Guardia, who believed marijuana laws should be abolished because they are hard to enforce, and cause more grievance to the public than actual marijuana use. After watching this documentary, the viewer might come to the same conclusion.