Live Premiere Events: Lawrence (10/22), Cape Cod (10/28), Quincy (10/29)
Online Premiere (YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Vimeo): 10/31
For 20 years, Chris Faraone has been the leading journalist covering cannabis in Massachusetts. From activism in the outlaw days, to medical marijuana, to the current complexity of the Cannabis Control Commission, he’s been there for every inch of the slog.
As the former Boston Phoenix and DigBoston staff writer explains in his new short documentary, Just Say No!, about Ballot Question 8 to repeal adult-use cannabis, shutter dispensaries, and take away your right to grow at home:
In my time on this beat, I’ve heard a lot of nonsense from relentless prohibitionists—everything from long-held stubborn stigmas about legal weed and workplace productivity, to newer talking points about dry-heaving and driving.
But of all of the fabulist abominations that have cropped up since the early aughts, the effort to close pot shops in the commonwealth is the most reckless. And the most threatening too, with the greatest hits of all past anti-marijuana movements rolled up into one big ticking ballot time bomb.
It’s insane that I have spent the past whole year trying to defuse the kind of reefer madness that was prevalent in the United States about a century ago. It’s been an infuriating time of countering familiar tactics and repetitive old villains, and watching the foolish mainstream media platform liars.
This movie is a time capsule and blueprint of the hell we gave these lowly bastards. Show it to everyone you know who cares about access to legal weed, because they might be coming for dispensaries in your state next.
Since the repeal attempt got serious last year, Chris has reported on every development. His articles and videos have garnered hundreds of thousands of views, and helped set the tone for the informal opposition to Question 8 in Massachusetts. Just Say No! covers the entire ordeal leading up to the weeks right before the November election, and reveals aspects of the fight you won’t see on the nightly news.
Check out the upcoming event calendar below for more on where you can see the premiere of “Just Say No!” in person before the election …
