The Culture High - Movie Review Example

“The Culture High” analysis "The Culture High" is a film that examines the issue of marijuana prohibition by interviewing different people. Harvey and Michael Bobroff believe that the topic of marijuana is necessary to discuss since the drug affects many people in one way or another. The film also captures issues such as Militarized police, prescription drugs, news media, the NSA’s actions, and prisons among many other topics. The documentary moves from one topic to the other as it moves on; it highlights some of the subjects that stand in the way of stopping the legalization of the drug. This paper takes a neutral position as it analyzes the content of the documentary. The documentary hypes the medicinal value of marijuana and compares the health hazards of the drug with those of cigarettes and alcohol (Lowe 5). In order to understand what goes on behind marijuana prohibition, the film involves testimonials from experts who know the drug. There are also testimonials from undercover agents, advocacy organizations’ representatives, and Snoop Dogg and Richard Branson. The aim of interviewing different people is to get a balanced view on the subject of Marijuana. However, the documentary appears to put more emphasis on the suggestions that Marijuana may not be bad for human beings. The opening part of the documentary appears to show how the authorities are cracking down people who are using Marijuana. They discover some marijuana in the homestead and charge the father. He is charged because of possessing weed and fined some money despite the harsh raid they had to undergo. The directors of the documentary believe that marijuana prohibition is the cause of such actions and if Marijuana was legal, then people would be using it peacefully. There is a story of a young person who was ill as a result of food allergy. The young man died in prison because he had failed to appear in court after being arrested for possessing marijuana. The documentary also covers a story of Jason David and his son Jayden who suffered seizures since when he was very young. The young boy is said to have found relief from the effects of cannabis (Harvey). The audience interest in the documentary fluctuates depending on who is on the screen at a particular time (Lowe 7). The people featured in the documentary involve insightful figures such as former police detective Ed Burns. Celebrities such as Snoop Dogg, Richard Branson, and comedian Joe Rogan appear to feature in the documentary to give it the attention it desperately needs. The film appears to borrow very heavily from archival materials. Slightly more useful are some horror stories from individuals whose lives are collateral damage in the war against marijuana (Voiceless Soldier). The documentary initially appeared to go political by blaming conservatives for cracking down on marijuana users (Voiceless Soldier). The film singles out Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, and his wife, Barbara Bush, and Mitt Romney for being against the use of the substance. However, it also criticizes President Obama’s appointment of Michele Leonhart to head the DEA. It also accuses President Obama’s administration of not tolerating the use of the substance. Former President Bill Clinton is also rebuked for supporting the legalization of marijuana after leaving office. The authors of the documentary believe that Clinton should have done something before leaving the office and support the legalization of Marijuana. The documentary is geared towards uniting viewers with a commonsense take towards the issue of war on drugs. The documentary has built what is a commonplace argument against the idea of marijuana prohibition. It would have been better if the documentary had explored the ways in which the discussion has progressed in modern days. The documentary only mentions the legalization of marijuana in Washington and Colorado in the dying minutes. However, the film fails to mention the changes in the popular opinion and political momentum in the country. On the other hand, the documentary does not hide his intentions of motivating viewers to agitate for changes in drug laws. The documentary has helped to shade more light on some benefits of Marijuana and why it should be legalized. The fact that some states are now changing their laws to allow the use of Marijuana; it is a big boost to the documentary. The most encouraging part of the documentary to proponents of marijuana is when it talks about Jason David. David’s son suffered seizures since he was a baby. The father gave the son the drug and for the first time, the son went without convulsions. That part of the documentary indicates that Marijuana has some medicinal values and the government should accept it. The story of Jason David and his son reminds viewers that the issue of marijuana may not be just academic and that the banning of the drug may be making many people suffer. The film traces the root of the marijuana debate to the banning of the substance in the 1930s (Gold 4). It also highlights the administration of Nixon efforts to eradicate and establish the Drug Enforcement Administration. The initiative that was prompted by subsequent governments grew into a fierce fight of illegal substances. The film claims that the war on drugs currently focuses on marijuana only. The film heavily relies on non-experts information such as those of comedian Joe Rogan. It would have benefited from the inclusion of people on the other end of the political divide in order to appear objective. One of the segments in the documentary examines the health benefits of cannabis medical treatments and the acceptance of marijuana laws in some states. The film aims at establishing that marijuana is not a contributor to mental health challenges. It also strives to show that marijuana does not lead to destructive as alleged by some quarters such as the previous administrations and law enforcement authorities. The documentary considers the current laws regarding drug abuse and regrets that the current fight only focuses on marijuana (Lowe 7). The number of people incarcerated for offenses related to drugs has increased in America. The documentary asserts that law enforcement funding have spiraled since Barrack Obama assumed the leadership of America. The increased focus on interdiction has forced states to diverge from federal enforcement practices on the medical marijuana issue and decriminalization (Lowe 6). In the coming days, more states are likely to support the decriminalization of the drug. The film, however, neglects to underline its case by looking at the potential economic benefits of marijuana legalization and the related benefits of lower imprisonment rates.  The film’s list of interview subjects, visibly with few public figures, covers a lack of creativity with lots of sources (Lowe 7). The brief interviews are intercut with vast amounts of archival and news footage that leads to unreasonable erosion of the documentarys central message. The new information that the film gives is included to make all connections to the issue of marijuana debate. The film makes a persuasive case that some interests may gain from the fight against marijuana. In the film, a researcher from Harvard says that the weed is “… the most non-toxic medicine I have ever come across.” The issue of marijuana prohibition is a very debatable matter. Whereas some people believe that the drug has medicinal value, some people argue that it is the primary cause of mental problems. So as to arrive at a conclusion, it is important for independent researchers to find out both the benefits and dangers of the drug. An extensive medical research will help identify if the drug is suitable for human use. Works Cited Gold, Daniel. The Culture High. The New York Times. 2014 Online Harvey, Brett. The culture high. 2014 Online < https://www.solarmovie.is/watch-the-culture-high-2014.html> Justin, Lowe. The Culture High: Film Review. 2014 Online Voiceless Soldier. Review of the Culture High. 2014 Online Read More