The Union – DVD Review

The Film:

Puff, puff, pass. Weed, fire, Mary Jane, what ever you call it, chances are you’ve smoked it. But is that a bad thing? Maybe to conservative Republicans, who in this country, think of it as some vile element that corrupts our youth and puts crime in our cities. But in Brett Harvey’s documentary, The Union: The Business Behind Getting High, he analyzes the chances of legalizing cannabis, in a thorough, light-hearted, and comprehensive film. Much more than a “stoner documentary”, Harvey takes a deep look at the grow ops in British Columbia, the history of weed, and the black market business of dealing.

In the first 15 minutes, there’s enough information through this brief historical look at marijuana, to tell anyone to shut up about the drug, since it’s a non-issue. Talking with everyone from former cops, to politicians, to dealers, to actors, to random people, Harvey really doesn’t miss anything here. Nor should he, because this is a delicate issue, and any shortsightedness could derail the documentary’s purpose. Facts are facts, and there’s nothing anyone can do about facts. They tell the truth. If this film was just a bunch of potheads telling us how cool smoking pot is and why governments should legalize it, then I wouldn’t have reviewed it.

Weed now, is like alcohol during the Prohibition. It’s a gigantic business, everyone does it, and yet it is such a crime to possess it. Will pot ever be legalized? It’s a hot bed issue, and I doubt if the naysayers would ever play Devil’s Advocate once just to look at it from, say, this film’s angle. If they did, I believe the issue would be a dead one. Now, I’m not some stoner who is using this documentary review as a platform to preach legalization, and that’s one of the good things about this film. Even if you have never smoked pot or even if you’re a concerned parent, The Union crafts all of the information is an easy, straight-forward manner, making it all accessible and easy to follow.

Could the legalization of pot happen soon? Maybe. But what if the legalization could spur enough revenue into our country, to aid this recession, to have money for health care, education, road construction, what ever a government would deem that spare millions for? Hmm. See, if you’re a mess up, and are going to drop out of school, get fired from your job, decide to get into heavier drugs, commit a crime, marijuana isn’t the catalyst for you to do it. You’re going to do it anyway. Weed isn’t a gate way drug, or some horrible thing to mess up our lives with. If you don’t like pot, then so be it, but don’t condemn those that do, because you’ll be condemning art, literature, politics, and anything else you enjoy, since chances are, those peeps were on pot.

The battle to legalize marijuana is at an all-time high (pun intended), and The Union wisely separates fear, propaganda, and misconceptions from the truth, in a very please documentary. Got the munchies yet?

The DVD:

Audio/Video: Outside of some dated source materials like archival footage, old educational films, and the like, the picture quality is quite good here. Details are sharp, nice clarity, and no issues with the overall print, making for a fine looking DVD. The audio is in stereo, but who cares. It’s all about the clarity of the dialogue and that’s what we get.

The film’s Trailer is the only extra, outside of some forced trailers in front of the film prior to the main menu.

Conclusion: The Union is highly recommended, no matter what side of the pot issue you stand on, just take a brief time out and see some facts on weed and hemp, and all the positives they can do.

The Film: Rating:

The DVD: Rating: