Marijuana, that fragrant herb, has accessorized some classic television and movie moments. Season 5 of Weeds got started on Showcase last Sunday, so we couldn't resist the opportunity to share our Top 10 favourites. Agree? Disagree? Let us know in the comments.
10. Dude, Where's My Car?
Dumbass hottie Ashton Kutcher nailed the stoner protagonist for this ludicrous, entertaining film. Obviously the plot is painfully ridiculous—alien babes out to destroy the world, anyone?—but you'll pee your pants laughing if you're high enough.
9. Brad Pitt in True Romance
Although he spends mere minutes on screen, Brad Pitt provides a stellar Tarantino moment as the pothead roommate Floyd. Sure, he offhandedly told the bad guys where the good guys were, but he also immortalized the honey bear bong, making him a stoner hero.
8. The Doors
Proving that not every marijuana movie has to be a giggle fest, Oliver Stone's exhaustive 1991 film romanticizes one of history's most drug-happy bands. Yes, the Lizard King slips down a spiral of addiction, but before that, Jim Morrison's search to open the doors of perception looks pretty damn cool.
7. Pineapple Express
This Judd Apatow buddy film was inspired by True Romance's Floyd—"I thought it would be funny to make a movie in which you follow that
character out of his apartment and watch him get chased by bad guys," Apatow once said. What happens is that he smokes a rare strain of bud called Pineapple Express, gets chased around town by a mean-ass Rosie Perez, smashes his cellphone in the woods, peddles dope to middle-schoolers, and ultimately makes up with his best friend. Good times.
6. Weeds
Whoever thought that sweet-faced Mary-Louise Parker would gain notoriety as a naive, pot-dealing mom? Of course, the Botwins have now left the 'burbs for the sketchy Mexico border, shining a light on the darker side of marijuana. Remember the good old days? Gimme some of that MILFweed.
5. Friday
Back when Craig (Ice Cube) and Smokey (Chris Tucker) were stressing to get murderous drug dealer Big Worm off their back, the amount they needed was a friendly $200. Aw, the '90s were so cute.
4. That '70s Show
Highlighting our most unfashionable decade, the eight seasons of this sitcom focused on a bunch of restless Wisconsin teenagers (including Ashton Kutcher, whose claim to fame always involved pot). Adding to the show's pothead cachet, the inimitable Tommy Chong had a bit part in the last few seasons as a befuddled aging hippie. To mollify network television censors, the characters never referred to marijuana or any of its slang names, merely sat in The Circle in Eric's basement, making goofy jokes as mysterious clouds of smoke billowed around them.
3. Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle
Oh, the irony: you smoke, you get the munchies, you decide to get a greasy burger, you can't find the burger joint cause you're high. The jokey familiarity of this situation sets the stage for this cult pot flick, another tale of far-fetched hijinks involving medical marijuana, Sixteen Candles and a cheetah. The highlight, however is Neil Patrick Harris playing himself, on ecstasy.
2. Half Baked
Just as Dave Chappelle began his rise to comedic fame (and infamy), he starred in this hysterical flick about a down-on-his luck janitor, Thurgood, forced to sell weed to bail a hapless friend out of jail. When the business becomes incredibly popular, Thurgood incurs the wrath of both local dealer, Samson Simpson, and his own straightedge girlfriend, Mary Jane Potman. Loads of celebrity cameos add to the fun—spot Snoop Dogg, Willie Nelson, Janeane Garofalo (where's she at these days, anyway) and Jerry Garcia's ashes.
1. Dazed and Confused
Indisputably the best marijuana movie of all time, Richard Linklater's Dazed and Confused is also a classic paean to high school, summer and friendship. Randall "Pink" Floyd is choosing his future: he'll either be an All-American quarterback hero, or a free-thinking, music-loving child of the '70s. There are too many great moments to mention, but here are a few: the freshman girl hazing, presided over by uber-bitch Parker Posey ("Lick me, all of you!"); Wiley Wiggins as the unbearably cute freshman Mitch, smoking weed and making out for his first time; Slater earnestly explaining that George Washington's wife, Martha, had a bowl prepped and ready for him every night; Jodi and Pink's secret kiss in the woods; and the gang lighting up on the football field at dawn.