Marijuana and the movie industry have a long history. Yet those who are not movie critics or avid film fanatics tend to believe when it comes to pot, there are only “stoner” films. This is not true. In 1936, arguably one the first movies containing cannabis use was released, aptly named “Reefer Madness”. This film’s original title was “Tell Your Children”, and was used as a propaganda piece in an attempt to deter high schoolers from using marijuana. Scenes from the movie involve an attempted rape, a hit and run, and manslaughter. Although the movie was intended as a serious piece, it is now widely distributed as a comedy. Go figure.

Fast forward to the 70’s which begins the era of what we consider stoner movies. In 1972, the animated piece Fritz and the Cat was released. This was an X-rated satire series featuring animated cats who sometimes found solace in smoking weed. Six years later, Cheech and Chong’s “Up In Smoke” hit theatres and then “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” was released in 1982. After “Fast Times…” was released there was an 11 year hiatus for the stoner film genre (Dazed and Confused appeared in ’93). This was largely due to the Reagan era of “Just Say No” and the introduction of drug testing at the workplace. However, it would not take long for the film industry to realize the economic potential of comedy films that revolved around smoking marijuana.
 

The 90’s brought us “The Stoned Age” (set in the 70’s), Friday (released in ’94), Bio-Dome, Half Baked, and the Coen brothers’ classic “The Big Lebowski” which featured the Dude who enjoyed White Russians and smoking marijuana. None of these movies were blockbusters in the theatres, yet the cult following that ensued proved vcr/dvd sales could more than make up for lackluster box office receipts.

The 2000’s have seen an explosion in movies that portray marijuana use. Notables include: “Super Troopers”, “Dude Where’s My Car”, “Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle”, and “Pineapple Express”. Yet it is not always laugh out loud comedies that feature cannabis use. “Saving Grace”, which was released in 2000, featured an older woman who turns to pot after losing her husband. “American Beauty” featured Kevin Spacey portraying a man who smokes the occasional joint to deal with the burdens of society.

There have also been a number of documentaries released that are based solely on marijuana use and cultivation. “Waiting to Inhale” chronicles the life of the first marijuana patient in the United States, and the court ruling that still enables Robert Randall to legally use cannabis nearly 30 years after the landmark verdict. “Super High Me” follows a comedian who gives up pot for 30 days, then smokes for 30 days straight to determine what the differences are in his demeanor and productivity. It also addresses the hotly contested debate over medical marijuana. CNN, PBS, and MSNBC have also all released hour+ long shows investigating the use of weed both legally and illegally. And of course television networks have profited from series such as “That Seventies Show” and “Weeds”.

But I cannot lie, I’m still a fan of watching comedies when I’m stoned. That being said, here is my list of the top five comedies where the regular use of marijuana is paramount to the thematic structure and plot of the movie.

1. The Big Lebowski
2. Friday
3. Dazed and Confused
4. Half Baked
5. The Pineapple Express