Top 10 Cannabis Documentaries for Education & Entertainment

Have you had a long day at work? Or perhaps you fancy a chill weekend nestled on the couch? Either way, why not spend your downtime expanding your mind? The 10 cannabis documentaries below will give you important insights into all things weed, from how it affects the human body, to its history, the herb’s therapeutic potential, and the disturbing politics that surround prohibition. Grab some popcorn and dive right in!

Top 10 Cannabis Documentaries You Need to Watch

There are a bunch of cannabis documentaries out there, but they're not all equal. We're all short on time these days, so it's important to invest your energy in something worthwhile. To help you out, we've distilled a list of the 10 best cannabis documentaries out there. These films will change the way you see weed, teach you about the history of the plant, and give you new insights into how it impacts the human body. Check them out, pick your favorites, and enjoy a joint as you broaden your mind.

1. The Culture High

Released in 2014 and with a Rotten Tomatoes rating of 91%, this feature-length film explores marijuana prohibition and the war on drugs in the United States. Directed by Brett Harvey, the flick won Best Documentary at the Alberta Media Production Industries Association (AMPIA) Awards. If you’re in the mood for a deep dive into the drug war, its effects on communities, and arguments for cannabis legalization, then grab a snack, hit the bong, and get ready to learn something new.

As the documentary progresses, you’ll enjoy impressive videography of cannabis plants, drug raids, and war zones. Interviews with advocates for marijuana legalization, including Snoop Dogg, Joe Rogan, Howard Marks, Graham Hancock, and Richard Branson provide strong arguments for the case for cannabis. One of Rogan’s quotes in the film best sums up the lack of logic on the opposing side: “The only way marijuana can kill you is if you take 25 pounds of it, throw it out of a CIA drug plane, and it hits you on the head”.

2. Weed The People

“It’s the same as any other drug. There are chemical compounds in the plant that interact with the cells in our bodies and have certain reactions”. These are the words of physician Bonni Goldstein, one of many brilliant minds that make up the cast of Weed The People, a groundbreaking cannabis documentary released in 2018. Both heart-wrenching and eye-opening, the film delves into the painful situations of families with children suffering from cancer. With nowhere else to turn, these parents opt to take a shot in the dark and give their children cannabis oil, sometimes with spectacular results.

But Weed The People doesn’t stop at a handful of testimonies. Directed by Abbey Epstein, the film showcases the history of cannabis prohibition, features interviews with leading scientists on the function of medical marijuana, and looks at the therapeutic potential of the herb for life-threatening medical conditions.

3. American Drug War 2: Cannabis Destiny

What starts as a powerful healing anecdote unfolds into an investigation into the suppression of a herb with the potential to help so many. Released in 2013 and directed by Kevin Booth, the film starts with the intense story of a 2-year-old boy enduring a severe diagnosis. While on his deathbed, his parents insert cannabis oil into his feeding tube, and he makes a seemingly miraculous recovery. The documentary then calls into question why such an action is considered criminal activity.

Interviews with cutting-edge cannabis scientists of the time, including oncologist Donald Abrams, delve into the research to assess the potential of cannabis for critical health conditions. The rest of the film looks into the intricacies of prohibition, the invested interests that have played a role in suppressing the plant, and how this decades-long conspiracy has damaged society down to the level of individual families.

4. The God Plant

How exactly does cannabis impact the human body to produce its unique effects? Watch The God Plant, and you’ll find out what makes this possible. Released in 2018, this cannabis education film looks at the chemical nuts and bolts of the weed plant and assesses its striking compatibility with one of the most mysterious signalling networks in the human body: the endocannabinoid system. Composed of various receptors, signalling molecules, and enzymes, this system holds sway over almost every facet of the human body, from the brain and gut to the skin, bones, and connective tissues.

By interviewing leading scientists in the field, The God Plant invites viewers to discover this hitherto hidden network that works like a lock and key with compounds from the cannabis plant. The film explores the evolutionary origins of the endocannabinoid system—all the way back to its presence in sea squirts—and details how it underpins the effects of cannabis on the human brain and beyond.

5. The Union: The Business Behind Getting High

Brought to screens in 2007, The Union: The Business Behind Getting High offers an intriguing throwback to the underground pre-legalization era in the nation of Canada. This cannabis industry film opens with a detailed four-minute history of cannabis in North America. The documentary then goes on to cover British Columbia's previously illegal cannabis trade industry, dubbed “The Union” and worth a massive $7 billion Canadian each year at the time.

Follow the plot as it shines a light on the underground markets of the era, and hear firsthand experiences from growers, dealers, politicians, and police officers. Ultimately, the film highlights the history of weed prohibition and puts on an exhibition of its economic and social consequences.

6. Emperor of Hemp

Hemp differs from the high-THC cannabis used in recreational and medicinal markets. Tall, fibrous, and low in THC, humans have used industrial hemp for millennia to craft a range of materials. In the past, civilisations used this subtype of cannabis to craft ship sails, ropes, and paper. In the contemporary era, companies are using hemp to make batteries, building materials, and even cars and planes.

However, despite containing only trace quantities of the principal psychoactive component of cannabis, hemp has been subject to prohibition in the past. Among all of the advocates of the hemp plant in recent history, Jack Herer, also known as the “Emperor of Hemp”, stands out the most. His namesake cannabis documentary showcases his exceptional life and work. Watch his story unfold as he fights to raise awareness of hemp and its multitude of uses and benefits.

7. The True History of Marijuana

You know cannabis has a long list of functions, but how exactly did our ancestors put the plant to use over the past few thousand years? Well, watch The True History of Marijuana, released in 2010 and directed by Massimo Mazzucco, to find out! This cannabis education film traces the history of hemp back to ancient civilisations and tracks our relationship with the plant right up to modern times. Along the way, the documentary highlights what went wrong.

Critical of prohibition, it pinpoints the racial, political, and economic influences that put the herb in shackles from a unique and captivating angle. By the end of this film, you’ll view cannabis and mankind’s relationship with it in a whole new light.

8. When We Grow

Produced by two young filmmakers on a tiny budget, When We Grow takes a deep dive into the state of cannabis culture and legislation in the United Kingdom during the early twenty-teens. The opening of the film features footage pulled from archives looking at ancient uses of hemp, and goes on to interview experts in the fields of UK cannabis policy and science.

Peter Reynolds, an advocate of cannabis law reform in the country, outlines the hypocrisy of the laws surrounding hemp. Likewise, the famous neuropsychopharmacologist professor David Nutt weighs in about how cannabis influences the brain and the safety of cannabis compared to other drugs. When We Grow also interviews medical cannabis patients, a hydroponic store owner, and a dealer.

9. Lynching Charlie Lynch

The cannabis documentary Lynching Charlie Lynch uncovers the friction between state and federal cannabis laws in the United States. Released in 2011, the film focuses on a period in 2006 when Charlie Lynch, from San Luis Obispo, California, obtained a business license for a cannabis dispensary legal in the eyes of the state.

However, a problem emerged that still rears its head in the country today. Cannabis remains a Schedule I substance in the eyes of the Drug Enforcement Administration of the federal government. Because of this conflict, the law-abiding Charlie Lynch finds himself in the crosshairs of the DEA, who eventually paint him as somewhat of a drug lord and throw him into federal detention. Discover the details of this riveting account and the fate of Charlie Lynch.

10. Grass Is Greener

Perhaps you don’t fancy watching anything too heavy as you experience the effects of that strain taking hold? In that case, prepare for something lighthearted yet fascinating with Grass Is Greener. The masterpiece of director Fab 5 Freddy, this flick explores the history of cannabis in America—strictly with music in mind.

From Snoop Dogg and Bob Marley to Cypress Hill, discover the link between some of the biggest musical names and their favorite herb. Freddy has also added a touch of activism to his film, covering the link between the drug war, marijuana, and revolutionary musical messaging.

Stay Informed & Entertained With the Best Weed Docs

Look no further, friend! You’ve just found the 10 best cannabis documentaries available. Watch just a couple of these films and you’ll come away with a whole new mindset when it comes to your favorite plant. You’ll possess a newfound knowledge of the endocannabinoid system, cannabis history, politics, and the uses of hemp. So, what are you waiting for? Sit back, relax, spark one up, and get watching!