[dropcap class=”kp-dropcap”]C[/dropcap]annabis has always been a popular trope to mine for comedy gold and tragic woes in film and television. While “stoner” films have thrived as part of a counter culture, where the illegality of cannabis made it more appealing, nowadays the cannabis landscape is significantly different. With a growing number of states legalizing cannabis, it is becoming more acceptable, and thus more lucrative. There’s an old adage in Hollywood, if there is money to be made, there are producers looking to cash in. Here is what can we expect of cannabis in pop culture this year.
Film
The big screen has always been a big supporter of cannabis. Every generation has their cannabis films. The ‘70s brought us Cheech and Chong. The ’80s saw younger kids achieve a whole new high with films like Fast Times at Ridgemont High and Revenge of the Nerds. The ’90s made it cool in films like Friday, Dazed and Confused and Clerks. The new millennium brought with it broader acceptance and an influx of films like Harold and Kumar, Pineapple Express and Ted. So what does the near future hold?
Get a Job (comedy)—A coming-of-age tale starring Anna Kendrick and Miles Teller. March
Everybody Wants Some (comedy)—The spiritual successor to Dazed and Confused about college kids dealing with the freedoms and responsibilities of adulthood. April
Meet the Blacks (comedy)—A spoof of The Purge films starring Michael Epps. April
Sausage Party (comedy)—Seth Rogen stars as an animated sausage on a quest to discover the truth about his existence. August
Bad Santa 2 (comedy)—A new adventure with Santa impersonator Willie Stokes. November
Super Troopers 2 (comedy)—The hilarious Vermont state troopers from the 2001 film are back in this sequel. 2016
- Welcome to Sparkeyville (comedy)—An anti-cannabis Senator wakes up in an alternate universe where everyone smokes cannabis. 2016
Midnight Delight (comedy)—A group of characters in a smoking lounge get into hilarious antics over conversations with total strangers. 2016
- Strain Wise (thriller)—Shawn Phillips struggles to survive the dangers of becoming the kingpin of America’s legalized cannabis market, at least long enough to save his family, his fortune and his own life. 2016
Boulder Budzz (comedy)—A burnt out cannabis dealer struggles with medical cannabis, the lady of his dreams and long arm of the law. 2016
TV
If the big screen has embraced cannabis for comedic fodder, the small screen typically used it as a cautionary tale. Many episodes of Law and Order began or ended with an anti-cannabis message. But in 2016, new cannabis acceptance may bring new opportunities. It looks like networks are stepping over each other to have their share of the proverbial pie.
Highland (dramedy)—Margaret Cho is forced to move in with her dysfunctional family who now runs a cannabis dispensary. Amazon
Buds (comedy)—Parks & Recreation’s Adam Scott stars in a show about the day-to-day operations of a dispensary. NBC
High Maintenance (comedy)—Follow a cannabis deliveryman called “The Guy” as he delivers cannabis to clients in New York City. HBO
Kevin Smith’s Hollyweed (comedy)—Two cannabis users do battle with a cookie magnate in a Los Angeles dispensary. TBD
Untitled Chuck Lorre’s Cannabis Comedy (comedy)—The Big Bang Theory creator is developing a comedy that takes place in a Colorado dispensary. TBD
Netflix and Chill: 420 Edition
Here are the top 10 cannabis films to watch this 4/20 on Netflix.
- Kid Cannabis
- Super High Me
- Trailer Park Boys: The Movie
- Wet Hot American Summer
- Scary Movie
- Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure
- Dude, Where’s My Car?
- Half Baked
- Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back
- Cheech and Chong’s Up in Smoke