The Union: The Business Behind Getting High (2007)

BC's illegal marijuana trade industry has evolved into a business giant, dubbed by some involved as 'The Union', Commanding upwards of $7 billion Canadian annually. With up to 85% of 'BC ... See full summary »

Director:

Brett Harvey

Writers:

Brett Harvey, Adam Scorgie

Stars:

Adam Scorgie, Chris Bennett, Steve Bloom

2 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Adam Scorgie	...	Self - Host
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Chris Bennett	...	Self - Author & Former 'Pot TV' Manager
Steve Bloom	...	Self - Former Editor, High Times
Renee Bojee	...	Self - Activist
Neil Boyd	...	Self - Professor of Criminology, Simon Fraser University
George Bush	...	Self (archive footage)
George W. Bush	...	Self (archive footage)
Larry Campbell	...	Self - Mayor of Vancouver, 2002-2005 (as Senator Larry Campbell)
Rielle Capler	...	Self - Policy Analyst - BC Compassion Club Society
Tommy Chong	...	Self - Comedian
Jack A. Cole	...	Self - Director of LEAP and Former Undercover Narcotics Agent
John Conroy	...	Self - Criminal Defense Lawyer
Greg Cooper	...	Self - Multiple Sclerosis & Ataxia Sufferer
Stephen Easton	...	Self - Professor of Economics, Simon Fraser University
Marc Emery	...	Self - Seed Retailer & Activist

Storyline

BC's illegal marijuana trade industry has evolved into a business giant, dubbed by some involved as 'The Union', Commanding upwards of $7 billion Canadian annually. With up to 85% of 'BC Bud' being exported to the United States, the trade has become an international issue. Follow filmmaker Adam Scorgie as he demystifies the underground market and brings to light how an industry can function while remaining illegal. Through growers, police officers, criminologists, economists, doctors, politicians and pop culture icons, Scorgie examines the cause and effect nature of the business - an industry that may be profiting more by being illegal.

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Plot Keywords:

cannabis | business | marijuana | weed | september 11 2001 | 

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Genres:

Documentary

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Did You Know?

Quotes

Joe Rogan: [Speaking to the interviewer regarding Cannabis] I thought the same thing, I mean, I didn't start smoking pot till about five years ago; I thought pot made you stupid. Now I bought into it just as much as anybody did. Then I realized when I was like, thirty years old that I was tricked. I was like, you gotta be fucking kidding me!

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Connections

Features Reefer Madness (1936)

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Soundtracks

Bumper Intro
for "Baked & Baking"
Original Music by The Tall Brothers
www.420tunes.ca

User Reviews

A little one sided, but very good

Off the top, let me first say I was very entertained by this film and found it very informative and a little thought provoking. However, as a documentary, it has some issues.

First, let me get the 'cons' out of the way. I will say the production values are low, however, some of the best documentaries are shot on shoe string budgets by people that really just have something they want to say! The music can be too prominent, monotonous, and a little irritating at times. It also doesn't fit the subject matter at points. Stock footage is a little over done, and over edited. Also, you really know right off the bad where the film makers stand on the subject matter! It can feel quite one sided at times, and can present some of the street people being interviewed as naive with uneducated points of view.

However, all that being said, there were a LOT of well made points that came up! The film makers take you inside the operations, and show you first hand how this world operates. He interviews some big names, and asks a lot of the big questions and covers a lot of areas that we never quite hear about.

Even if it's not the best documentary (and I'm not even sure how that standard could even be set...) this is one that you should take in! It'll be worth your time!

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 June 2007 (Canada)

Also Known As:

Союз

Filming Locations:

Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

CAD200,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Score G Productions

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color