Weed The People
Through the emotional stories of children fighting cancer, WEED THE PEOPLE educates mainstream audiences about medical cannabis as a human rights issue.
Cannabis has been off-limits to doctors and researchers in the US for the past 80 years, but recently scientists have discovered its anti-cancer properties. Armed with only these laboratory studies, desperate parents obtain cannabis oil from underground sources to save their children from childhood cancers. “Weed the People” follows these families through uncharted waters as they take their children’s survival into their own hands. Some of their miraculous outcomes beget the unsettling question at the heart of the film: If weed is truly saving lives, why doesn’t the government want people to access it?
Director:
Abby Epstein and Ricki Lake
Screening Date:
Oct 20, 2018
Studio:
Mangurama and Bobb Films
Running Time:
1 hour 37 mins.
| Excellent | Very Good | Good | Fair | Poor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 48.3% | 19.3% | 25.8% | 3.2% | 3.2% |
“Thank you for having the director as our guest. Hooray for
Ricki Lake!”
“Just not my cup of tea. But some touching anecdotes. Great
guest!”
“Complex issue well done. Hopeful, cutting edge, music a bit
overdone at end. Cannabis sounds like a miracle.”
“As issues go I’m all for legalizing any chance at curing this
dreaded disease, so you had ne from the beginning. Thus the
film to me was so sad and at times painful to watch these
children suffer. The real agenda here should be whether we as
a society have the right to medication or the right to make a
buck on medication.”
“Well done Documentary!”
“A great topic handled with care and respect for the children
and families. But as documentaries go it was just way too much
talk. Say what you will about Michael Moore’s politics but he
produces visuals that grab your attention.”
“Needs to be seen by the entire medical and political
community. Prices must come down!”
“A serious and important documentary. I wish it was a little
less sentimental and a little more political, but I suppose that
perspective provides a broader entry into a wider viewership.
Unfortunate title: WEED THE PEOPLE. Really? Too stoner by
half. Also the soundtrack was too folksy. These short coming
bring the film down.”
“Abby Epstein was a terrific guest and I wish we had more time
with her. Where can we see some of her previous films?”
“Cooking up cannabis cocktails in your kitchen sink is one step
away from snake oil salesmen, but sadly that’s all the hope
some of these people have. Why is the medical community
turning its back on a product with such enormous potential?”
“An important message, especially in light of recent
developments in the legitimizing of marijuana. The film was
compelling and leaves many important questions open. I felt it
was a little too preachy and skimpy on the scientific evidence,
although there was some reference to some studies. Does
cannabis have other benefits/dangers besides its apparent
effect upon cancer? All in all, it’s an important message.”
“The lady with the two-hundred-year-old books on hemp and
cannabis I found most interesting. Where can I get those
books?”
“A terrific look at a difficult issue, and well-presented on both
sides.”
If you'd like to know more about the film...
https://youtu.be/w4cLkWkKYQY Here's an interview with Abby Epstein and Ricki Lake speaking about producing and directing "Weed The People"
https://www.leafly.com/news/strains-products/what-are-the-best-strains-f... This website gives insight on different types of Cannabis to help with cancer symptoms.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/tarahaelle/2017/12/12/medical-marijuana-for... This article speaks about some doctors supporting medical marijuana for children. Just like Abby stated in our Q&A on Saturday, some doctors will try their best to help, but others will say it's a bad idea in order to keep themselves from getting in trouble.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/i-got-high-with-ricki-lake-and-talked-abou... Here's an interview of Ricki Lake getting high with a journalist speaking about "Weed The People" and her late husband Christian Evans.
https://www.canabomedicalclinic.com/10-common-conditions-medical-cannabi... Here are some other medical conditions that marijuana can help with.
