Pubdate: Tue, 30 May 2000
Source: San Francisco Chronicle (CA)
Copyright: 2000 San Francisco Chronicle
Contact:  http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/
Forum: http://www.sfgate.com/conferences/
Author: Mick LaSalle, Chronicle Staff Critic

HARRELSON MAKES HIS VOICE HEARD ON THE HISTORY OF HEMP

Actor Narrated `Grass,' A Film About Marijuana Laws

Woody Harrelson has a reputation for getting behind causes. A few years 
ago, he climbed the Golden Gate Bridge, protesting the destruction of 
ancient redwood groves. He lent his support to the Proposition 215 
campaign, the medical marijuana initiative, and has been outspoken on the 
virtues of hemp. He also has a reputation as one of the nicest and most 
unaffected guys in the movie business.

On Friday, ``Grass,'' a colorful documentary about the history of marijuana 
in the United States, opens at the Castro Theatre. Harrelson is the 
narrator. ``I think it's fantastic,'' Harrelson says by phone from Hawaii. 
``It's very informative, but in a way that's very entertaining. It shows 
how marijuana came to became a big prejudice.''

The film, by Ron Mann, maintains a tone of lighthearted bemusement, even as 
it piles on evidence that the war on drugs has been a waste. The movie 
traces the evolution of anti-marijuana laws and shows how, despite huge 
expenditures, more and more people used marijuana as the 20th century 
progressed.

``I do smoke,'' Harrelson says, ``but I don't go through all this trouble 
just because I want to make my drug of choice legal. It's about personal 
freedom. We should have the right in this country to do what we want, if we 
don't hurt anybody. Seventy-two million people in this country have smoked 
pot. Eighteen to 20 million in the last year. These people should not be 
treated as criminals.

``Last year there were 700,000 arrests for pot -- 90 percent for simple 
possession. These are otherwise perfectly fine, law-abiding people. I think 
there needs to be some fairness. Pharmaceuticals kill 100,000 a year. 
Cigarettes kill 500,000. How many people are killed by alcohol, and yet the 
best commercials on television are about how great and wonderful it is to 
drink Budweiser and Miller. How many people are dying from smoking pot? I 
don't even suggest that anybody smoke it. But they shouldn't go to jail for 
it.''

Despite his commitment to causes, Harrelson doesn't belong to any political 
organization. ``I stay as far away from politics as possible. It's corrupt 
from within. The system is a fraud, though I do like Gore. He's talking 
about the most important thing: One-fifth of all mammals face extinction 
now. We're plucking all these strands out of the web -- not we -- but 
electrochemical companies, mining, timber. I'm worried it might get a lot 
worse before it gets better.''

Harrelson thinks that big money is behind the war on drugs. ``It continues 
because it's lucrative. By the government's own account, 101 billion 
dollars have been spent. Think of what you can do with a billion dollars. 
Like when Ted Turner gave a billion to . . . what's the name? Oh, come on. 
. . .'' Then he laughs. ``See, there are drawbacks.''

Harrelson, whose most recent movie was ``Play It to the Bone,'' with 
Antonio Banderas, has no new movie in the pipeline. ``I'm looking at some 
things, but nothing yet,'' he says. ``I'm not making a movie here (in 
Hawaii); it's just a vacation. My parents are here. The whole family. I'm 
hanging out with my kids, who are 7 and 3. That's probably the most 
restorative thing to my mind. I realized I was spending their formative 
years working, so I've cut back.''

What Harrelson is really looking forward to these days is acting in ``The 
Late Henry Moss,'' which will open the fall season at San Francisco's Magic 
Theatre. Also in the cast will be Sean Penn and Nick Nolte, with Sam 
Shepard, who wrote the play, directing.

``I was hanging out with Sean, and one night he mentioned he was doing it. 
Billy Bob Thornton was talking about doing it, but he couldn't. I called 
Sean and told him my schedule could work it out. I'm not doing this for the 
money. I'm a huge fan of Sam Shepard. I'm psyched.''

``By the way, the United Nations,'' Harrelson says, as the conversation 
winds to a close. ``That's who Ted Turner gave the billion dollars to.''

E-mail Mick LaSalle at  ---
MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart