Product Details

• Actors: Joe Rogan, Tommy Chong
• Directors: Brett Harvey
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
• Language: English
• Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Peace Arch Home Entertainment
• DVD Release Date: July 28, 2009
• Run Time: 104 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (66 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0025XUTKQ
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #20,934 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• Learn more about "The Union: The Business Behind Getting High" on IMDb

Editorial Reviews

Follow filmmaker Adam Scorgie as he demystifies the underground market and brings to light how the marijuana 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.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

58 of 58 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars for advocates and naysayers alike August 8, 2009

By Justin Withem

Format:DVD

Cannabis culture, particularly in the medium of film, tends to unintentionally parody and belittle itself by excessively glamorizing the drug and perpetuating stereotypes about its users, but this documentary provides a serious platform for intelligent, well-spoken advocates of legalization to make logical (and not easily refutable) points against the U.S. and Canada's present drug policies.

I'd never expect a film to change a true skeptic's mind, nor would I ever force my beliefs on anyone resistant to them...but if ever a skeptic were curious to hear the pro-legalization side of the marijuana debate, I'd recommend this film. It's a succinct, comprehensive, powerful (but not too preachy) rundown of all the best arguments in favor of what is, in millions of people's opinions, an unfairly vilified substance.

(Also, it's worth mentioning that Amazon may be doing the film a disservice by listing Tommy Chong and Joe Rogan as its stars. Each has less than three minutes of screen time, and both are immensely composed and well-spoken compared to their appearances in dumb stoner comedies and inane reality television, respectively. Rogan, in fact, cements his credibility in this film by practically apologizing for having hosted "Fear Factor".)

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Marijuana / Legalization Documentary Currently Available July 26, 2009

By T.N.T.

Format:DVD

This is the best current documentary on the subject of pot prohibition and marijuana stigmas! Very well produced, I gotta give props to the director here...many points scored for producing a modern, entertaining, and well-arranged film. Grant you this film is biased on its recurring theme of "let's legalize already" and somewhat misleading with its title of business behind pot (only some of the movie is devoted to that specifically) but this is the most modern, edgy, and entertaining documentary I've seen for some time.

It pits both sides of the legalization argument and shows how many of the anti-legalization/anti-marijuana arguments are completely false and based merely on ignorance, prejudice and lack-of-facts.

Whether you are for marijuana prohibition or against it, this film inspires what should be a national discussion of the topic. This film is a MUST SEE for all interested in this topic. An important film for convincing arguments on the subject and perfect mix of humor, entertainment, and education.

44 of 48 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars It's about time... August 6, 2009

By zander

Format:DVD

I grew up behind the orange curtain, southern california. I was raised with a very conservative view about drugs and almost got into a fight with my best friend for giving my girlfriend a hit off a joint. In the meantime I was the guy coming to the party with a 12 pack of beer, then driving home. As I started from these humble "anti-(illegal)drug" years, I expanded my world, began traveling and learning the truth about cannabis. I have been initiated into many spiritual practices as ganja as the focal point. You would be correct in saying that almost every religion or form of spirituality has its roots in cannabis. Yes, even Jesus enjoyed his herbal remedies. Today I am a registered Minister of Cannabis.

Why are the most damaging drugs to humans legal and even prescribed to us?
Why are the healing medicines demonized and made illegal?

This is the best documentary I have seen on the issue of cannabis. Why is it illegal? Who benefits from having a war on a plant? My dad is a sponsor of the DARE program and feels that anyone using "marijuana" should be in jail. Jail is not for any human, animal, plant, nor any other form of life, it does NOT work and the system is beyond barbaric. The fact that US has more jails than any country tells us how crazy we have become. It's time for us to change the game. We create our government and the amount of control we will submit to. This documentary will greatly help those who know a little bit about the story, and hopefully open up the parachute for those who are willing to question their upbringing to find out why things are the way the are...