The Naked Queen is a cultural critique of the mythic foundations of the war on drugs which has in essence become a war on cannabis. Starting with the ancient history of cannabis and leading to the extremism of US federal policy with regard to this enigmatic plant, this feature documentary strips away the propagandist illusions about cannabis with its “roots in hell”, unveiling the hypocrisy of this entrenched policy.
The Naked Queen explores cannabis from a cultural rural Canadian perspective. It finds the common sensibilities around the issues of growing and using cannabis. Why is the use (and abuse) of alcohol and pharmaceutical drugs so acceptable but marijuana use plagued with stigma? The Naked Queen looks at the facts around the demonization, the rising number of arrests for cannabis and asks why an increasing amount of money (taxpayer’s dollars) and energy is being spent to keep this plant in prohibition? What are the effects of prohibition and who is benefiting? Why is the Harper government pushing for mandatory sentencing? How does the potential extradition of three Canadians to the United States (for selling pot seeds) affect our personal and national sovereignty?
This film looks at the ‘compassion’ clubs and the work they are doing. It talks to psychologists,lawyers, doctors, activists, others, artists and growers and reveals the down to earth ancient relationship that humans have with cannabis. The Naked Queen is not about glorifying cannabis. It is about respecting it as a medicine and looking at this issue with openness and honesty. This uniquely Canadian film has a timely relevance for those seeking to understand the plant called ‘cannabis’ and the culture around it.
“…to me this problem has a very simple solution and it blows my mind how much time and energy and resources are being invested into trying to solve the medicinal cannabis and the overall cannabis problem when it’s so simple and so obvious, let’s just do it… so we can get on to putting some of that energy and resources into way more complicated and serious problems that we’re facing as a global community.”
Hillary Black founder Vancouver Compassion Club.
