Imagine a black-market industry so large that insiders claimed it was worth up to $7 billion Canadian a year.
My colleague Rob Kelly ranks this documentary #2 in his list of The 14 Best Cannabis Documentaries.
Trailer for “The Union: The Business Behind Getting High”
You Can’t Make This Sh!t Up
- In British Columbia, the illegal marijuana trade became so large that insiders called the industry “The Union.” Estimates put its value at up to $7 billion Canadian.
- The doc argues that the violence, gang activity, and corruption associated with cannabis stem from prohibition itself. It compares it to alcohol prohibition in 1920s America.
Watch “The Union: The Business Behind Getting High”
You can currently watch “The Union: The Business Behind Getting High” for free on YouTube.
Ratings:
- My Rating: 93/100
- IMDB Rating: 8.1/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 94/100 (Users)
Director’s Note: Brett Harvey directed this documentary in 2007. He talks to police officers, criminologists, doctors, economists, politicians, and growers. That wide range of voices makes the film feel more like an investigation than a political argument.
Release Date: September 2007
Other Unique Stuff
- The doc came out 10+ years before Canada legalized recreational marijuana nationwide in 2018. Looking back, many of the discussions about legalization, taxation, and regulation were right.
- Growers describe marijuana operations that looked more like legitimate businesses than criminal enterprises. They had supply chains, quality control standards, and large-scale distribution networks.
Wrap Up
“The Union” is one of the smartest documentaries I’ve seen about cannabis. If you’re interested in drugs, economics, crime, or public policy, this one is well worth your time.
Thanks for reading!
Heather Fenty, Guest Writer, Daily Doc