Throughout the northwestern United States, in states such as Oregon, Colorado and Washington, the sale and use of marijuana has been legal for years. These states could serve as case studies for the rest of the U.S. and other countries currently considering widespread legalization.
Do the benefits of increased government funding and reduced drug convictions outweigh the potential risks? The documentary Northwest Trees travels to these regions to find out.
The filmmakers found a thriving “weed culture” where drugs were readily available and underage drug use was common. Amazingly, this was exactly the reality before the drug was legalized. Children as young as 6 were experimenting with marijuana long before the ban was lifted, and it continues to play an equally important role in their daily lives after legalization. But heavy drug use in music videos and other popular media may have a bigger impact on young people than the loosening of drug laws.
Interviews with school officials and teens reveal another abuse epidemic with far worse consequences. Young people are increasingly using prescription narcotics, which have more addictive and debilitating side effects than marijuana. The debate over whether marijuana is a gateway to these powerful drugs is still debated and seems to vary from case to case. Of course, drug abuse is on the rise in many states and countries where marijuana prohibition is still in place.
Separating the hype from the hard scientific evidence can be a challenge when it comes to the long- and short-term risks associated with marijuana use. Truth is often the first victim of over-politicized issues, and the cannabis debate is no exception. Northwest Trees has attempted to give an honest and firm account of each side of this debate.
Ultimately, it will take longer to find definitive answers, and we still have a lot to learn, but the questions the film asks are an admirable start.
Directed by: Ben Grayzel
