Cannabis, Society & Those Movie Munchies

Society’s attitude towards cannabis has certainly grown (so to speak) over time. Used for millennia around the world as medicine, spiritual aid, and raw material for everyday products, it was raised by George Washington and Thomas Jefferson before becoming commonly prescribed by American doctors and sold in U.S. pharmacies as early as the 1850s. By the 1880s, every major city on the East Coast had a hash bar.

But in 1906, it was put on a list of narcotic “poisons” and formally prohibited in the 1920s, primarily in response to the influx of Mexican workers who got high on their off hours. In 1970, it was outlawed to control the burgeoning hippy and newly-empowered black populations.

Nothing struck fear in the hearts of American parents better than the 1936 film ‘Tell Your Children”, later renamed ‘Reefer Madness’ - ironically released three years after the end of alcohol Prohibition. It was released in partnership with the newly formed Federal Bureau of Narcotics as part of a nation-wide anti-drug campaign.

By the early 80s, several states had changed their views on medical marijuana. In 1988, DEA judges changed its legal classification. California was the first to decriminalize and then legalize. Washington and Colorado eventually followed suit. Today, marijuana is legal medically in 35 states and recreationally in 15.

In 2017, pot became legal nationwide in Canada, as it is medically and/or recreationally now in over 40 countries around the globe.

With that in mind, here is a list of some of the most excellent stoner films of all time:

1. Cats

2. The Midnight Gospel (TV)

3. Adventure Time (TV)

4. Russian Doll (TV)

5. The Big Lebowski

6. Enter the Void

7. Smiley Face

8. Fantasia

9. Friday

10. Half-Baked

11. How High

12. The Wash

13. Thor Ragnarok

14. Alice in Wonderland

15. Alice Through The Looking Glass

16. Super Troopers

17. Pineapple Express

18. Cheech and Chong Up In Smoke

19. Cheech and Chong‘s Nice Dreams

20. Tenacious D: The Pick of Destiny

21. Trailer Park Boys: The Movie

22. Your Highness

23. Year One

24. Dazed and Confused

25. Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure

26. Brazil

27. This Is The End

28. Hot Fuzz

29. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

30. Pink Floyd The Wall

31. Zombieland

32. Mallrats

33. The Night Before

34. Wet Hot American Summer

35. Fritz The Cat

36. Dude Where’s My Car

37. Wanderlust

38. Fast Times at Ridgemont high

39. The Grand Budapest hotel

40. Reefer Madness (just for fun)

Enjoy!