Jacob Redmond
Well-Known Member
Michael Hope describes himself as an optimist and someone who believes people will do the right thing if they take the time to educate themselves on a topic.
That's why he'd be willing to rent a movie theater in Pierre and invite Gov. Dennis Daugaard and the state Legislature to attend a screening of his film, "Pot (the movie)." If lawmakers learned about the benefits of medicinal marijuana, Hope thinks, they would be willing to follow in the footsteps of Colorado and other states and legalize it.
He supports the use of marijuana beyond just medical uses, however. Most importantly, Hope has become a crusader on behalf of people like Angela Brown of Madison, Minn., who is facing jail time for treating her son with marijuana oil to help ease the headaches and other ailments he suffered after sustaining a traumatic brain injury when a baseball hit him in the head.
"Pot (the movie)" will premiere on Saturday at St. Anthony Main Theater as part of the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Film Festival.
Hope, who was born Michael Johnson but took his grandmother's maiden name since it better reflected his personality, returned to South Dakota's Madison in 2003. In a phone interview, he recently answered questions about his film.
Question: Why make a film about marijuana?
Answer: "My thought was to try and have it reflect the first year of legalization in Colorado and juxtapose it to the situation in South Dakota. There's what I call a 'policy cavern,' such a huge lack of understanding as it were from certain aspects of rural America. How could something be legal and fully accepted 10 hours from here, but in our state you're going to jail or being prosecuted for small amounts?"
Q: Why should South Dakota legalize marijuana other than for medical reasons?
A: "One thing we should understand whether we choose to offer it recreationally or medically: We derive a lot of our tax dollars from tourism. With marijuana's there's no propensity to violence like there is with hard drugs or alcohol. If you're taking a trip across the United States and you get on Google and you read we're one of the only states where you'll go to jail or be prosecuted for having it in your system, that causes 10,000 people to go a few states nor or south so they don't have to go through South Dakota. That has ramifications."
Q: You don't see marijuana as dangerous?
"Can people overdo it? Doughnuts, sex, gambling, politics - you name it, you can get your fingers on it, we can overdo it. Really, I think most people in South Dakota have some type of an understanding about marijuana. Unfortunately, the education on this topic is so misleading."
Q: How do you see your movie?
"I see it as a love letter to future generations. To my nieces and nephews. To my kids. I hope they take away from it, please be mindful of any substance you put into your body. Some have short-term effects, some are poor choices, some can be fatal. I'm advocating for people to get educated."
Q: Why is it important for you to involve the state's politicians?
"I like Gov. Daugaard. I think he's a reasonable person. I would love to give him an opportunity to see this movie. This is not a sharp stick, honestly. I'd love to have the opportunity to screen the film with him and state legislators. I would rent the theater. I'll buy the popcorn. Just please understand this outdated policy based on outdated information is having real ramifications and an outdated effect on our state."
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Maker of 'Pot (the movie)' takes aim at S.D.
Author: Jill Callison
Contact: jcalliso@argusleader.com
Photo Credit: Robert Barbour
Website: Argus Leader, argusleader.com
That's why he'd be willing to rent a movie theater in Pierre and invite Gov. Dennis Daugaard and the state Legislature to attend a screening of his film, "Pot (the movie)." If lawmakers learned about the benefits of medicinal marijuana, Hope thinks, they would be willing to follow in the footsteps of Colorado and other states and legalize it.
He supports the use of marijuana beyond just medical uses, however. Most importantly, Hope has become a crusader on behalf of people like Angela Brown of Madison, Minn., who is facing jail time for treating her son with marijuana oil to help ease the headaches and other ailments he suffered after sustaining a traumatic brain injury when a baseball hit him in the head.
"Pot (the movie)" will premiere on Saturday at St. Anthony Main Theater as part of the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Film Festival.
Hope, who was born Michael Johnson but took his grandmother's maiden name since it better reflected his personality, returned to South Dakota's Madison in 2003. In a phone interview, he recently answered questions about his film.
Question: Why make a film about marijuana?
Answer: "My thought was to try and have it reflect the first year of legalization in Colorado and juxtapose it to the situation in South Dakota. There's what I call a 'policy cavern,' such a huge lack of understanding as it were from certain aspects of rural America. How could something be legal and fully accepted 10 hours from here, but in our state you're going to jail or being prosecuted for small amounts?"
Q: Why should South Dakota legalize marijuana other than for medical reasons?
A: "One thing we should understand whether we choose to offer it recreationally or medically: We derive a lot of our tax dollars from tourism. With marijuana's there's no propensity to violence like there is with hard drugs or alcohol. If you're taking a trip across the United States and you get on Google and you read we're one of the only states where you'll go to jail or be prosecuted for having it in your system, that causes 10,000 people to go a few states nor or south so they don't have to go through South Dakota. That has ramifications."
Q: You don't see marijuana as dangerous?
"Can people overdo it? Doughnuts, sex, gambling, politics - you name it, you can get your fingers on it, we can overdo it. Really, I think most people in South Dakota have some type of an understanding about marijuana. Unfortunately, the education on this topic is so misleading."
Q: How do you see your movie?
"I see it as a love letter to future generations. To my nieces and nephews. To my kids. I hope they take away from it, please be mindful of any substance you put into your body. Some have short-term effects, some are poor choices, some can be fatal. I'm advocating for people to get educated."
Q: Why is it important for you to involve the state's politicians?
"I like Gov. Daugaard. I think he's a reasonable person. I would love to give him an opportunity to see this movie. This is not a sharp stick, honestly. I'd love to have the opportunity to screen the film with him and state legislators. I would rent the theater. I'll buy the popcorn. Just please understand this outdated policy based on outdated information is having real ramifications and an outdated effect on our state."
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Maker of 'Pot (the movie)' takes aim at S.D.
Author: Jill Callison
Contact: jcalliso@argusleader.com
Photo Credit: Robert Barbour
Website: Argus Leader, argusleader.com