(1971) Impulse pictures has unearthed another lost oddity form the past - whether this is a good thing or not is 'highly' debatable. A pseudo-documentary regarding the sexual benefits of reefer on the average Dick and Jane and its legal history in the U.S., along with crucial information about how to roll a joint for newbies and even grow, cultivate and harvest plants for the degenerate pot fiends among us, all dished up in a casserole of grindhouse sex rife with nudity that's more laughable than erotic. And I do mean grindhouse - the print is laden with hairs, scratches, lint and assorted blemishes, and the audio is feeble also. To give you an idea of the dubious merits of this time-dated conveyor belt of clichés, its principle 'star power' here are the appearances of a clean-cut John Holmes and Billy Curtis (the midget from 'The Wizard of Oz' and 'High Plains Drifter'). Two strong reasons to immediately throw this one in your Amazon shopping cart, correct? I thought so.
Of course, because of the prevalent permissive society back in the day, this is obviously a pro-pot piece of propaganda, but it's so much more, friends, it's full-throttle hardcore porn too. The bastard love child of 'Reefer Madness', the narrative covers the history lessons of this 'highly' medicinal and misunderstood plant and also illustrates its various points through individuals and couples who were either helped or hindered (usually the former) by Mary Jane along with 'Candid Camera' man-on-the-street interviews between vignettes that appear real and are occasionally hysterical. There's also a bit on the seedier side of drug trafficking to go along with a damn fine recipe for pot brownies. But the underlying thread here, put simply, is about getting high and F#*king. There's a ton of nudity (remember: pot immediately gets you hornier than a pen full of goats, especially you ladies out there) and one of my favorite lines is "Marijuana is the greatest sexual stimulant since they invented the twelve-inch penis". (To whom do we credit with such an invention, and where do those less fortunate procure such a thing?). Ya can't make stuff like this up, folks... Keep the hard liquor and controlled substances handy when you're watching this one for maximum impact and enjoyment, kids.
Then there's the group-grope therapy session where all participants are buck naked, but that poses the serious question - do you really wanna see these people naked and getting it on? You'll have to find out for yourself - as a period piece for alcohol-induced amusement while getting similarly-baked with a few like-minded friends, it's a hoot and a holler. (Tho I personally prefer 'Weed' by Alex de Renzy for a better pic about cannabis from the same year, available from Something Weird on a two-fer dvd paired with the glorious 'Acid Eaters'). For most looking for hardcore jollies, it's a five-star sedative. As an 'Aphrodisiac', try some oysters or rhino horn instead...