Tracing the "scourge" of marijuana that hit the USA dating back to the early 20th Century "Grass" brings out the sorry record of how the US Government attempted to put an end to the marijuana menace. That noble effort actually backfired with millions of Americans, both young and old, ended up using it.Narrated by actor and cannabis activist Woody Harrelson the film shows the extent of the many feeble attempts, filled with misinformation, that the US Government tried to convince the public that the harmless weed marijuana was far more dangerous then heroin or, starting in the 1970's, cocaine. These "studies" also went so far to show that marijuana was far worse then even alcohol and tobacco which are both considered, by the US Government, to be a legal substance! All that boggles the mind with both alcohol and tobacco being responsible for hundred's of thousands of Americans dying each year with marijuana, since records have been kept, not responsible for a single fatality to the millions of those who use it!Firing the first shot of the war against marijuana in 1937 was the first designated, by FDR, US Drug Czar Harry J. Anslinger of the US Treasury Department. Anslinger used every effort to get the public educated on the dangers of the weed which in fact was really a massive propaganda campaign against any evidence that proved to be favorable to it.Together with the many newspapers and magazines who carried lurid and shocking-as well as false- stories of what marijuana does to the "Youth of America" Hollywood also lent a hand with "educational" films on the subject like "Tell Your Children", or more commonly known as "Reefer Madness", and "Assassin of Youth". Despite the evidence in it's favor in the many studies on the drug that came out over the years the US Government suppressed them in favor of keeping the, that was later to become known, "War on Drugs" going.In the end the war on pot-or marijuana-turned out to be a major disaster for those who advocated it with tens of millions of Americans, including the last three Presidents of the United States, having experimented or having become regular user of it! Even though the use of marijuana is still illegal in many states of the union most of the laws against it have been de-fanged with it's use being decriminalized. And in states like Oregon and Hawaii its use is not even considered to be a crime at all!P.S What would put an end to the debate to either legalize or criminalize marijuana is if its use is to be put on a national ballot before the American Voters and have them have the final say on it. In the some two dozen states where it, the use of marijuana, was put on a state referendum it passed in almost, if not all, of them and it was passed overwhelmingly!

Grass (1999) *** (out of 4) Woody Harrelson narrates this documentary that takes a look at marijuana laws in America, which have been enforced for one hundred years even though nothing has ever been accomplished by it. The documentary uses stock footage from those in charge, President speeches and interviews as well as "warning" films such as Reefer Madness, Marijuana and Up in Smoke among others. Seeing the actual history of these laws makes for one funny documentary because of how stupid some of the things trying to be passed off were. I've reviewed Reefer Madness countless times but might have to give it more credit since it was the government passing most of the trash seen in the film. Throughout the film we see various speeches from government people and their opinions on the drug including that of Richard Nixon who ordered a report on the drug and when that report came back not showing the drug to be bad, Nixon simply threw the report away. The documentary never takes itself too serious nor does it ever try to be political but instead just show some facts, which some might want to overlook on purpose.

The United States of America has spent untold billions to search out, arrest, prosecute, and imprison people who use marijuana; all the time, money, and effort that has gone into this has had very little effect; and it does seem odd, particularly given evidence that alcohol and nicotine are much deadlier, that we put so much emphasis on the clearly futile effort to eradicate its use. It is a situation ripe for a documentary that combines hard fact with witty satire, and this is precisely what GRASS attempts to do.But "attempts" is the operative word here. While the film is accurate re the facts it presents, it tends to ignore facts it doesn't like--chief among them that any drug, all the way from cough syrup to heroin, can be abused, and marijuana is no exception to the rule. Ron Mann's failure to acknowledge this tends to undercut his own argument, and what ultimately emerges is a film that argues FOR the legalization of marijuana TO people who are already in favor of it.That said, while the film presents plenty of amusing graphics and often hilarious snips of vintage films such as the notorious REEFER MADNESS, the pace is just a shade too laid back to hold the narrative together. When all is said and done, it lacks both the informational and visual spark of a truly first rate documentary. Worth watching once, but only if you don't expect too much from it.Gary F. Taylor, aka GFT, Amazon Reviewer

I found this to be a lousy documentary. That despite the fact that I like Woody Harrelson and have been fascinated by our backwards-ass drug laws for a long time now.I do not smoke pot. Sure, I have (who hasn't?), but I did not enjoy it and prefer to be "in control".Still, the criminalization of marijuana makes me want fill my backyard with the damn plant in protest of such corrupt and unfounded domestic policy.Of course, we know why marijuana is illegal - partly because some folks like to regulate morality (the same ones pushing sodomy laws); but mostly because it benefits the powers that be. Such a large scale "war on drugs" stirs up the economy, politicians make money on kickbacks & organized crime has a field day! Meanwhile the drugs get more dangerous, the streets get more dangerous, and the Government gets richer while gradually breaking down our rights.That said, "Grass" doesn't paint the picture well. It relies too much on eye candy and distracting comic relief while it meanders around the juicy stuff - the criminalization of marijuana! I don't know why the filmmakers thought they needed to spice things up with cartoons, and an endless stream of old anti-drug reels (at first they are amusing but after a while it's just repetitive and detracts from the flow of things); the story itself is very intriguing & could have carried more screen time. Not only that, but some of the more interesting, deeper motives of the drug war are not explored whatsoever. It's a very superficial look at the drug war; only slightly informative and entertaining at times, but hardly what it could be. Perhaps your meant to watch it high, because clean & sober I found it boring and unfocused...