Super High Me

Super High Me is a fascinating documentary styled film that follows the life of veteran stand-up comedian and renowned "stoner" Doug Benson as he explores the impact of marijuana on his life, body, and career. This work is a playful spin on the title and concept of the movie Super Size Me, but rather than consuming large amounts of fast food, Benson indulges in equally excessive amounts of cannabis.

Doug Benson is primarily known for his laid-back demeanor and slow, ironic wit. Throughout his stand-up career, he has frequently referenced his own recreational marijuana use. Strikingly, Super High Me directly addresses this facet of his personal life as a central theme. Directed by Michael Blieden, the film neither emphatically promotes nor condemns marijuana use. Instead, it serves as a springboard for a wider look at the looming marijuana debate in the United States and provides a fascinating exploration into the effects of marijuana consumption.

In Super High Me, Benson undertakes an experiment similar to that of Morgan Spurlock in Super Size Me, focusing on marijuana instead of McDonald's. He abstains from using marijuana for a month, a challenging task considering his open admission of being a daily user, then the pendulum swings the other way. Following the detox period, he smokes or ingests marijuana daily for a month straight. To monitor his health during this undertaking, he maintains a close relationship with medical professionals who perform various tests to measure changes in his physical and mental health.

The movie is humorous, insightful, and at times, shockingly eye-opening. The film balances the fun of Benson’s life as a comedian while also providing a serious exploration of the immediate effects of marijuana on one’s mind, body, and overall health. Throughout the documentary, Benson serves as both primary subject and social commentator on the burgeoning marijuana industry, the legislation surrounding it, the stereotyping of marijuana users, and the contrasting opinions of its use for recreational and medicinal purposes.

Super High Me is about more than just Doug Benson being high. It delves much deeper into marijuana's impacts on society along with its cultural, legal, and medical implications. The crux of the film offers an exploration into California's compassionate use law, which allows for the medical usage of marijuana. Benson dives head-first into the world of dispensaries, patient identification cards, and the stigma surrounding the use of marijuana as a legitimate medical aid.

The film integrates interviews with cannabis shop owners, health experts, political analysts, and law enforcement officials. Their perspectives bring a balanced view, weighing on topics like the war on drugs, the shifting cultural and legal landscape of marijuana, and its vital role in medicinal treatment for a variety of conditions.

As the film progresses, viewers get to see Benson's stand-up performances at various comedy clubs. Strikingly, his comedic abilities, despite his use or abstinence from marijuana, remain on point. This raises questions about the conventional stigmatization of marijuana users as incapable or uninspired, challenging viewers to reassess their preconceptions about marijuana.

Yet, the film does not promote excessive marijuana use. Instead, it emphasizes the importance of individual responsibility and understanding when using substances, legal or otherwise. The movie also highlights the varied and contentious standpoints towards marijuana's legal situation, urging viewers to critically question the status quo's propaganda on both sides of the debate.

While Super High Me provides a substantial amount of comedy and light-hearted jesting, it simultaneously illuminates the pressing issue of marijuana legality and its societal implications with sincerity and integrity. Thus, the film does an excellent job in blending comedy with serious subject matter, effectively offering viewers an enjoyably enlightening cinematic experience. It manages to maintain a nuanced perspective, neither advocating for unchecked marijuana usage nor condemning it outright, instead urging for informed conversation and understanding.

Super High Me, while being a testament to Doug Benson's characteristic comedy style, acts as both a socio-cultural commentary and an engaging, humorous documentary that is sure to entertain and inform viewers at the same time. It's a must-watch for fans of Benson and anyone interested in a balanced, light-hearted look at the broader issue of marijuana use and legalization.