In recent years, the evolving legal and cultural landscape surrounding cannabis has sparked significant public interest. This burgeoning curiosity is increasingly reflected across major streaming platforms, offering viewers a diverse array of documentaries, reality shows, and series that delve into various facets of the plant, its industry, and its impact on society.
From explorations of business and reform to cultural deep dives and culinary experiments, services like Netflix, Hulu, Pluto TV, Amazon Prime Video, and Philo are providing unprecedented access to narratives that were once confined to niche channels or entirely absent from mainstream media.
Charting the Business and Regulatory Frontier
Among the prominent titles available is the CNN series “High Profits.” This documentary follows a couple navigating the complexities of expanding their cannabis dispensary business. Starting in Colorado, a state at the forefront of cannabis legalization in the United States, the series chronicles their ambitious efforts to branch into other states as marijuana reform gains traction nationwide. The show offers a ground-level view of the entrepreneurial spirit and regulatory hurdles inherent in the rapidly growing legal cannabis market.
Another significant documentary exploring the global regulatory shifts is the three-episode Netflix series titled “Highland: Thailand’s Marijuana Awakening.” This program provides an in-depth look at Thailand’s relationship with cannabis, examining both its traditional culture surrounding the plant and the country’s dramatic shift towards decriminalization and regulation. It highlights the unique cultural context and the potential economic and social implications of this policy change in Southeast Asia.
The complexities of the American market are also explored in National Geographic’s “American Weed,” a series that examines different perspectives and challenges within the U.S. cannabis industry, touching on legal, social, and economic aspects.
Culinary Adventures with Cannabis
Streaming services also cater to viewers interested in the intersection of cannabis and cuisine. Vice TV’s “Bong Appétit” stands out in this genre, featuring celebrities and chefs who explore cooking with cannabis. The show moves beyond simple edibles, showcasing innovative techniques and gourmet approaches to incorporating the plant into diverse dishes. This series highlights the evolving perception of cannabis from illicit substance to culinary ingredient.
Netflix has also entered the cannabis cooking space with two distinct reality competition shows. “Cooked With Cannabis” pits chefs against each other in timed challenges, requiring them to creatively infuse dishes with cannabis for celebrity judges. Similarly, “Cooking on High” offers a more lighthearted take, featuring chefs preparing cannabis-infused meals with comedic commentary.
Broader Perspectives and Deep Dives
Beyond business and cooking, other documentary series and films available across platforms offer critical examinations and broader cultural perspectives. CNN’s “Dr. Sanjay Gupta: Weed” is a notable entry, featuring the renowned medical correspondent’s evolving investigation into the medicinal properties and potential benefits of cannabis, reflecting a significant shift in mainstream medical discourse.
The film “Grass Is Greener,” available on Netflix, explores the historical intersection of jazz music, cannabis, and the plant’s criminalization in the United States, presenting a compelling narrative on race and drug policy.
Reality television also touches on the subject, with shows like “High Hopes” exploring the day-to-day operations and personalities within a specific cannabis business.
“The Marijuana Show” offers a business-focused reality format, akin to a ‘Shark Tank’ for cannabis entrepreneurs, highlighting pitches and investments within the industry.
More serious issues are addressed in documentaries like “Murder Mountain” (Netflix), which investigates mysterious disappearances and homicides in a remote Northern California region known for illicit cannabis cultivation, exposing the darker side of the unregulated market. “Weed the People” is a documentary focusing on the use of cannabis as medicine, particularly for seriously ill children, presenting powerful human stories and advocating for access.
A Reflection of Changing Times
The wide availability and diverse content of these cannabis-themed shows and documentaries on major streaming platforms underscore the plant’s transition from a taboo subject to a topic of mainstream interest and exploration. They offer viewers insights into the complex legal, economic, cultural, and social dimensions of cannabis in the 21st century, reflecting a society grappling with reform and understanding its multifaceted role.
