Hashtag’s Cannabis Film Club: The Most Iconic Marijuana Films Of All Time
By Jeff Eckenrode, COO
Should you roll a joint or settle in to watch a good movie? Well … why not do both?!
Photo by Content Pixie.
Today, we’re going to explore some of the most iconic films from the marijuana-smoking world.
So get ready to put your stoner skills to the test while learning most about some of the best movies about cannabis!
But why movies?
Because movies are a behind-the-scenes look into the world of traditions, beliefs, and assumptions many people have about cannabis and cannabis users.
Photo by Aneta Pawlik.
The films that made our list showcase common vocabulary, idioms, and cultural nuances that you simply can’t get elsewhere.
After careful selection and hours of research, our team curated a diverse line-up of films for this special post.
Today, we’ll reveal our picks for “must-watch” marijuana films!
Hashtag’s Six “Must-Watch” Marijuana Films
Reefer Madness (1936)
This comically bad cult-classic, originally entitled Tell Your Kids, follows the tragic fall-from-grace tale of two high school students, Bill and Mary, who succumb to the devastating effects of marijuana use.
Widely considered the grandfather of the stoner film genre, Reefer Madness holds a special place in our hearts for its dated, alarmist views on the dangers of "marijuana addiction" and its fantastic (and exaggerated) symptoms.
Moment to watch for: When Bill tries a “marijuana cigarette” for the first time:
Mae: “Oh dear, if you want a good smoke, try one of these!”
Up In Smoke (1978)
When marijuana-smoking slacker and amateur drummer Anthony Stoner leaves his home and hits the open road, he meets a kindred spirit, Pedro de Pacas, along the way.
Full of cheeky hijinks and misadventures, Up In Smoke recounts the epic journey of two marijuana-ingesting misfits as they attempt to smuggle a van made completely of marijuana while being pursued by an assortment of comically incompetent cops.
Moment to watch for: When Anthony shares a special joint he rolled with Pedro after a close call with the police:
Pedro: Man, what is in this shit, man?
Anthony: Mostly Maui Wowie man, but it's got some Labrador in it.
Pedro: What's Labrador?
Anthony: It's dog shit.
Pedro: What?!
Friday (1995)
It's Friday, and Craig Jones has just gotten fired for stealing cardboard boxes.
To make matters worse, his rent is due, his relationship with his girlfriend is on the rocks, and his best friend, Smokey, owes the local drug dealer a lot of money -- and that's all before lunch!
Moment to watch for: Tucker teaches Cube the right way to inhale with the sacred law of “puff, puff, give.”
Half Baked (1998)
When a member of their crew gets arrested for killing a New York City police horse by feeding it junk food, three stoners are forced to get off their butts and raise bail by selling marijuana stolen from a pharmaceutical lab.
It's a risky plan, but the stakes are high. And these guys would do anything to help out a friend in need.
Moment to watch for: Brian’s ultimate list of snacks for the evening munchies, which includes: “Sour cream and onion chips with some dip, man, some beef jerky, some peanut butter … some Häagen-Daz ice cream bars, a whole lot, make sure there’s chocolate, gotta have chocolate, man …”
Super Troopers (2001)
Always on the lookout for action, five excitable but under-stimulated Vermont State Troopers raise hell on the highway, keeping motorists anxiously looking in their rear-view mirrors.
Caught in an ongoing feud with the local police department, the "Super Troopers" find themselves tangled up in a drug-smuggling conspiracy that leads to the very top of the chain of command.
Moment to watch for: Thorny and Rabbit’s traffic stop, where they interrogate a trio of stoned motorists on their word choice:
Thorny: “Are you okay?”
College Boy 2: “Yeah, sure.”
Thorny: “Yes, sir?”
College Boy 2: “Yes sir!”
Thorny: “No, did you say ‘yes sir?’”
Rabbit: “I think he said "yeah, sure.’”
Pineapple Express (2008)
Dale Denton's favorite strain of marijuana proves life-threatening when he drops his roach in a panic after witnessing a murder.
Upon learning that the fancy weed can be traced back to them, Dale and his dealer, played by James Franco, embark on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure to solve a murder and save their own behinds.
Moment to watch for: Saul describing what it’s like to smoke Pineapple Express: “It’s almost a shame to smoke it. It’s like killing a unicorn, with like … a bomb.”
What is your favorite cannabis movie?
Did your favorite make our list? If not, then let us know!
Comment here or on our social media accounts so you can share your favorite cannabis film with us and your fellow stoners.