The Union – The Business Behind Getting High

BC’s illegal marijuana trade industry has evolved into a business giant, dubbed by some involved as ‘The Union’, Commanding upwards of $7 billion Canadian annually. With up to 85% of ‘BC Bud’ being exported to the United States, the trade has become an international issue. Follow filmmaker Adam Scorgie as he demystifies the underground market and brings to light how an industry can function while remaining illegal. Through growers, police officers, criminologists, economists, doctors, politicians and pop culture icons, Scorgie examines the cause and effect nature of the business – an industry that may be profiting more by being illegal.

Ever wonder what British Columbia’s most profitable industries are? Logging? Fishing? Tourism? Ever think to include marijuana? If you haven’t, think again. No longer a hobby for the stereotypical hippie culture of the ’60s, BC’s illegal marijuana trade industry has evolved into a seemingly unstoppable business giant, dubbed by those involved as ‘The Union’. Commanding upwards of $7 billion Canadian annually, The Union’s roots stretch far and wide, directly and indirectly affecting all areas of our society. With 65% to 85% of all ‘BC Bud’ being exported to the United States, it’s clear that the BC marijuana trade has become an international issue with consequences that extend far beyond our borders. When there are record profits to be made, who are the players, and when do their motives become questionable?

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  • Inochi

    Awesome doc.
    edit: btw whoever rated this doc a 1, fuck you.

  • Tyler

    I agree with Inochi this doc was amazing crammed with very important info, but then again if you dont already know this info you prob should just turn back on fox news.

  • tom magnusen

    Thanks for putting this on here , I was going to email you and mention it but I guess I dont have to. Excellent Documentaries , one of the better one that I have seen on Marijuana.

  • Mich307

    Where can I buy an HD quality DVD?

  • Bunnington

    Right on!!

  • truthfox

    wow… i dont smoke but fuck it im bout to go find some and fire that shit up…peace and love…

  • Inochi

    If you go to http://www.thepiratebay.org and search for it, you can download a divx .avi of this film, fairly high quality. Burn that to a disk.

    Also search for “Escape to Canada”, documentary made in 2005 also cram packed with info on the canadian peoples fight for civil liberties. Mainly focusing on cannabis, same sex marriage, and U.S. refugee’s.

    mod edit: Escape to Canada http://www.documentarywire.com/escape-to-canada/

  • Steven

    Hey doees any one know what I can get a copy of this that will play in the US?

  • kyle

    I love weed, I don’t nor will I ever do real drugs, well except for alcohol,lol. But seriously, Marijuana is not a drug and is great for mental focus, clarity, headaches, and realizing how f’d the government is and what the important things in life should be. If everyone smoked, the world would be at peace.

  • Jackie wong

    We grow some of the best in Jamaica!!!

    My grandmother use to say ” Anything that God as made
    cannot be bad but good”!

    So I am all for the true facts coming to air and the public dormain.

  • Boy

    I live in South Africa and i smoke everyday. It’s illegal here but you can get it anywhere…The Swazi is the best and Durban poison is choice. gonna smoke till the day i die – and now you know why. Weed saved my life!

  • http://www.fortunebay.org Fortune Bay

    Good for you!

  • GanjahMan

    Muy Muy Bueno, especial para todos aquellos que hablan sin saber.

  • lotmr

    Great doc with the exception of the crazy greyhair talking about Marinol. Electron spin? Subatomic quirks and quarks? Please.

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  • http://a Dexterity

    ref electrons/sub atomic particles etc…. i donty know how much or little you know about particle physics but i studied it for a while [and am also a pot head - so that destroys the fallicy that pot makes you stupid!] many scientists believe the difference between particles containing the same chemical compounds [ie the different strains of thc] are different due to the way the negative particles on the outside of the atom are affected by the internal sub atomic particles [quarks, mu-ons all those others contained within the nucleus of the atom. check documentaries about ‘the particle soup’ or quantum psysics generally… it will not answer the point raised in this doc, but may bring understanding….

    • Justin

      Thank you for addressing the issue of the quirks and quarks, I learned a tid bit about it in a chemistry class at college. You can’t mimic such things with todays technology, we are barely understanding it. And I too am a poster boy for a successful ‘pot head’, receiving the ‘Governor General’s Medal’ in the province of British Columbia. So I think thats one debate we can lay to rest.

  • http://1230 sXe

    so what is this propaganda “document” trying to say? I did not see the whole thing. But I can tell you one thing. No matter what will tell you “scientists” or corrupted politicians paid by all kinds of drug lobby. There are negative side effects of weed. Hell I’ve seen it on my friends whe claimed they are not addicts yet they couldn’t talk or think of anything else. DRUGS ARE FOR LOSERS!

    • Bax7a

      I did not see the whole thing…

      I fear this may apply to your entire life.

      Open your eyes.

  • Inochi

    sXe the point isnt about whether or not drugs are for losers. The point is the government has absolutely no basis upon which to dictate moral behavior to citizens. People who want drugs will get them, criminals will supply them wherever prohibition is in place. Prohibition caused the massive increase in mafia activity during the 1920′s after the Valstead act, and low and behold, now that its legal again theres no criminal elements trafficking it. Must just be co-incidence though eh? Maybe you want your government to be your full time babysitter, telling you what to do, when to do it, how to think, but I dont. And according to the constitution of the US its illegal for the entire drug war to be taking place to begin with.
    END

  • http://1230 sXe

    inochi: sure, to somepoint i agree, but i still think, that documents like this one are just an excuse for the weak ones to take the drug,they don’t see the point

  • Hardcorefan

    Just because identification with sxe youth culture gives you a sense of identity doesn’t validate lazy group think. Go research libertarianism, the war on drugs and find out the consequences of criminalization. Prohibition is for losers; we all lose. Think for yourself.

  • ladybugman

    Farout, goovy, right-on, babey. luv getting left handed, from left handed ciggerets.

  • staggerlee

    SXE, You need to understand why marijuana is illegal in the first place, for the American history of marijuana look up a doc called “Grass” it is narrated by Woody Harelson. The main reason marijuana is illegal is because of all of the products that can be made from hemp (fuel,paper,textiles,high density composite boards,plastics,food,etc) a lot of cotton,oil,paper company’s stand to lose their business over one plant. Do some homework for crying out loud we are losing our freedoms and our rights to think for ourselves. Reafer Madness is propaganda made by Harry Anslinger and funded by oil and paper companies and proven wrong. Don’t let your personal choice to not use marijuana affect others remember we should have the right to a choose…. p.s. Right-on Ladybugman

  • bee.

    i saw this movie last night and wow it had so much info .which really ,made me ask my self why people feel this “Drug” is so bad when it is the least of any ones worries. like ive always said i i can go out and get super hammered and beligerant and do stupid stuff and maybe get arrested but if i go out and blaze up the worst thats gunna happen to me is i may get munchies later, its the safe choice for parents.

  • TwilightCircus

    Coming from the Weed country where its legal for a few decades. Holland baby…i say ..Smoke on..Peace..Legalize it everywhere..let the people decide.

    CiaoO

  • pat

    for all those that want copies of this, you can download films straight from this and any other site including youtube by installing a download manager like IDM , internet download manager, available through a torrent easilly!! you will never believe how you survived without it!!

  • Mr. Gee

    SXE

    You are the reason the world is as dictative as it is today.

    Where do you get your facts about Pot being ADDICTIVE ?? I am not a smoker myself but work with many professionals that smoke each and every day. With that said, they are sharp as razor blades and excel in their professional life.

    Many times our job takes us on the road for weeks on end and NONE … that’s right .. NONE of them are freaking out for pot as a MUST HAVE. That being said, I do hear .. “Man oh man, I “NEED” to get a beer before I freak out”

    Open you mind and step out of the sandbox the government wants you to stay in so badly.

    It is all about control my friend

  • slider

    my father is just like SXE hes not ready to be unplugged from the matrix he thinks it is there to protect him not control him. My mother has opened her eyes but some r just not ready. They r both in their 60′s. I have been a commercial crabber for 12 years and when my back aches i cannot open or close my hands because they r so swollen cannot sleep at night because of the pain cannabis allows me to relax soothes the pain so i can get a good nights sleep.

  • Mr. Gee

    Slider .. Amen to that.

    As I said, I am not a smoker. My neighbors father has very back arthritis in his knees and hands. His doctor wanted to put him on Oxycontin (sp?). When he told the doctor he would not put that man made poison into his body and he was not going to be hooked on a narcotic, his doctor gave him a prescription for Medical Marijuana (same things as on the streets, don’t be fooled). The doctor said to him from the way the story goes … “This is as natural as it can get, and it works just as well”. He is happy to not be hooked on a man made chemical yet use this natural medicine to help.

    Perhaps our friend needs to ACTUALLY WATCH the film. I was a huge skeptic till I did. Then the film sparked questions in my brain which furthered my want for the truth. I knew that what I was told growing up was BS (I suspected it then as well) so I needed to dig out the truth…

    I am very happy I did. My thinking on this natural gift from god is a full 180

    Cheers

  • http://www.rugbyworldusa.com Bert Hermanus

    I was reading something else about this on another blog. Interesting. Your perspective on it is diametrically opposed to what I read to begin with. I am still mulling over the different points of view, but I’m tipped to a great extent toward yours. And irrespective, that’s what is so super about modernized democracy and the marketplace of ideas on-line.

  • Nancy Tran

    all im saying is just dont smoke it while you drive.

  • http://none Christopher Jack Courtenay

    Hi I am from the UK I smoke weed every day I am not an addict i can go with out. its a gate way drug because of the law i have had other drugs but only because they were offered by the people i knew from the drugs world i didnt go out looking for a new drug. if i could buy it in a shop/cafe then i would never have had anything else.

  • luis

    Is this doc in Spanish or at least with subtitles cuz i have to give an oral report about marijuana in class and there are a bunch of tards who can’t understand English so i have to translate it for them, goddd anyway if anybody knows where i can find this amazing doc in Spanish just let me know ok!! thanks!!!

  • Snoop

    one of the best doc or movie ever made sxe need to go smoke a fat ass blunt and watch it again to open his fuckin eye ol’ mccain sounding ass u probly a geek in ur mommas basement

  • SOCHI

    hello.
    i am looking for english subtitles for this movie…
    does anybody know how to get it ?
    thanks

  • http://www.cannabisbroker.com Cannabis Broker

    Hello, thanks for putting up the full video and also a big thanks to the guys who made the film targetted towards the Canadian marijuana market.

  • alex 2k10

    chong the bong all night long ^_^ peace

  • E

    Thank you very much for this documentary , people should not let themselves manipulated and fooled like they are.

  • Tyler

    this is by far my favorite documentary.

  • See In

    Thank You!

  • Am

    Wow…enlightening. I just posted it on my Facebook.

  • Am

    Wow…enlightening. I just posted it on my Facebook.

  • Am

    Wow…enlightening. I just posted it on my Facebook.

  • Cmyrick18

    Really it is always good to see idiots who don’t know the harm of this drug talk like they are experts :( weed is bad and fucking kills and damages the dendrites in ur brain thus making those who smoke slower to react so first off weed should be globally banned but of course it won’t so let the idiots get more stupid who cares if they kill thier brain cells and yes it does kill ur brain cells just researh it I been in medical field and see and delt with enuff brain scans so get educated before u talk cause u really sound stupid :)

    • rickyrozay

      NO medical test used to determine brain damage has indicated brain damage in humans who use marijuana –  even after long term use. If you would like to refer me to an ACTUAL study or document that says otherwise feel free to do so. Your the one that sounds and looks stupid with no evidence to support your claims.

    • Tooth_decay2

      everybody looses brain cells, and the only people you see acting retarded are the people who are on hard drugs, you can be 60, and still be the same if you smoked weed lol, weed does nothing harmfull really. how bout trying it out? haha

  • Cmyrick18

    Really it is always good to see idiots who don’t know the harm of this drug talk like they are experts :( weed is bad and fucking kills and damages the dendrites in ur brain thus making those who smoke slower to react so first off weed should be globally banned but of course it won’t so let the idiots get more stupid who cares if they kill thier brain cells and yes it does kill ur brain cells just researh it I been in medical field and see and delt with enuff brain scans so get educated before u talk cause u really sound stupid :)

    • rickyrozay

      NO medical test used to determine brain damage has indicated brain damage in humans who use marijuana –  even after long term use. If you would like to refer me to an ACTUAL study or document that says otherwise feel free to do so. Your the one that sounds and looks stupid with no evidence to support your claims.

  • Cmyrick18

    Really it is always good to see idiots who don’t know the harm of this drug talk like they are experts :( weed is bad and fucking kills and damages the dendrites in ur brain thus making those who smoke slower to react so first off weed should be globally banned but of course it won’t so let the idiots get more stupid who cares if they kill thier brain cells and yes it does kill ur brain cells just researh it I been in medical field and see and delt with enuff brain scans so get educated before u talk cause u really sound stupid :)

    • rickyrozay

      NO medical test used to determine brain damage has indicated brain damage in humans who use marijuana –  even after long term use. If you would like to refer me to an ACTUAL study or document that says otherwise feel free to do so. Your the one that sounds and looks stupid with no evidence to support your claims.

  • Anonymous

    This is such a great documentary! Everyone should see it.

  • Anonymous

    This is such a great documentary! Everyone should see it.

  • Anonymous

    This is such a great documentary! Everyone should see it.

  • Anonymous

    This is such a great documentary! Everyone should see it.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_2VAHKUZZIUTTB5FCO4OAEHLEK4 Ro Jobo

    TO Cmyrick18
    there has never been any definate medical research released to show evidence against marijuana and its uses.
    As always governments are here to control its people, unfortunatley as you can see throughout our history our government has used manipulation, lies, conspiracies, and ignorance to control us. Ignorance is the greatest one, has been used all over the world, one we can all defeat as long as we pull our heads out of our asses and stop being Cmyrick18
    Oh if you read this please post this “research” you have and its sources
    not an article, or quote the actual research; its always good to know that all research is funded by someone.
    so that someone that dishes out all the money tends to get results they want.
    I wish i was as ignorant as you, everyday must be a bright day for you where you live in complete harmony. I bet your dad is Bob Saget and you have a little sister name Mary Kate Olsen.
    In the real world everyone is lying, hard part is figuring out why.
    Here is a bunch of stuff posted by a Dr.
    http://www.lycaeum.org/paranoia/marijuana/facts/
    This site has tons of facts, read it, indulge
    oh and Cmyrick18 you are all over the internet, ANOTHER TOOL OF THE MAN TO FIND YOU.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_2VAHKUZZIUTTB5FCO4OAEHLEK4 Ro Jobo

    TO Cmyrick18
    there has never been any definate medical research released to show evidence against marijuana and its uses.
    As always governments are here to control its people, unfortunatley as you can see throughout our history our government has used manipulation, lies, conspiracies, and ignorance to control us. Ignorance is the greatest one, has been used all over the world, one we can all defeat as long as we pull our heads out of our asses and stop being Cmyrick18
    Oh if you read this please post this “research” you have and its sources
    not an article, or quote the actual research; its always good to know that all research is funded by someone.
    so that someone that dishes out all the money tends to get results they want.
    I wish i was as ignorant as you, everyday must be a bright day for you where you live in complete harmony. I bet your dad is Bob Saget and you have a little sister name Mary Kate Olsen.
    In the real world everyone is lying, hard part is figuring out why.
    Here is a bunch of stuff posted by a Dr.
    http://www.lycaeum.org/paranoia/marijuana/facts/
    This site has tons of facts, read it, indulge
    oh and Cmyrick18 you are all over the internet, ANOTHER TOOL OF THE MAN TO FIND YOU.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_2VAHKUZZIUTTB5FCO4OAEHLEK4 Ro Jobo

    TO Cmyrick18
    there has never been any definate medical research released to show evidence against marijuana and its uses.
    As always governments are here to control its people, unfortunatley as you can see throughout our history our government has used manipulation, lies, conspiracies, and ignorance to control us. Ignorance is the greatest one, has been used all over the world, one we can all defeat as long as we pull our heads out of our asses and stop being Cmyrick18
    Oh if you read this please post this “research” you have and its sources
    not an article, or quote the actual research; its always good to know that all research is funded by someone.
    so that someone that dishes out all the money tends to get results they want.
    I wish i was as ignorant as you, everyday must be a bright day for you where you live in complete harmony. I bet your dad is Bob Saget and you have a little sister name Mary Kate Olsen.
    In the real world everyone is lying, hard part is figuring out why.
    Here is a bunch of stuff posted by a Dr.
    http://www.lycaeum.org/paranoia/marijuana/facts/
    This site has tons of facts, read it, indulge
    oh and Cmyrick18 you are all over the internet, ANOTHER TOOL OF THE MAN TO FIND YOU.

  • legalizeit!

    Awesome documentary, if only we could broadcast this so that people could finally realize that they have been lied too all these years.  I believe that if this documentary made its way to national television and people actually gave it a chance, the prohibition would be over.  You would have to be a moron to still believe marijuana is dangerous let alone harmful to peoples health, nor would they agree that this prohibition is a good thing.  The truth is contagious and frankly everyone has been lied too, and lied too, over and over again throughout the years, this lie cannot stand forever.. it cant

  • legalizeit!

    Awesome documentary, if only we could broadcast this so that people could finally realize that they have been lied too all these years.  I believe that if this documentary made its way to national television and people actually gave it a chance, the prohibition would be over.  You would have to be a moron to still believe marijuana is dangerous let alone harmful to peoples health, nor would they agree that this prohibition is a good thing.  The truth is contagious and frankly everyone has been lied too, and lied too, over and over again throughout the years, this lie cannot stand forever.. it cant

  • Berniewiebe1984

    Laws only apply to us if we fallow them!

  • Berniewiebe1984

    or believe in them.

  • spindle

    good try Cecil, but you don’t know what you’re talking about.

  • Tokeup

    And here we stand today. Why is marijiuana not legal? In a 5th grade DARE booklet, it says marijiuana causes cancer. I nearly shit myself with anger

  • Zachary Burrows

    Do you know anything about chemistry, physics, biology, or medicine that would prove that all this (Electron spin. subatomic quirks and quarks) doesn’t have an effect on how marijuana/thc effect the user? If so, please explain.

  • skarreddemon

    If you didn’t watch the whole thing you shouldn’t even be stating your opinion

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/YFPW7OHQKTOZMNFD5JPHVFZFYY Zach

    wow… you fucking hippacrit. did you even watch the fucking movie? if you did you werent paying attention dumbass.

  • Anonymous

    Wow! First of all what studies have you done? secondly After BBC did the deep blue sea documentary series with the new sub that could probe deeper than ever before scientists found a very interesting plant at the bottom of the ocean. They found that this plant has both THC emitters and receptors (it gets itself stoned constantly). After the British government wanted to reclassify cannabis they had their chief scientific and medical advisers to study THC. They went back to this plant and discovered it is in fact one of the first complex  lifeforms on the planet. Most life on Earth is derived from this plant, when the great oceans receded some of these plant were left rooted on dry land given the world the gift that is weed. Since life on Earth is derived from this plant all life from a blade of grass to cockroaches and beyond have these THC receptors. EVERYTHING can get high. They concluded that the reason why we all like getting stoned so much is that it is NATURAL for all life. They also found that while yes! THC is a mild psychotic (only affecting existing conditions) CBTs are a very strong anti-psychotic. And if THC kills dendrites I highly doubt they would have hooked a man up to an intravenous drip of Pure THC for two months just to study the effects. He said it was like being in a very interesting coma by the way.
    Thirdly I’ve smoke cannabis for nearly two decades and guess what… I have an I.Q of 154 at the last check so my reasoning and memory don’t seem to be affected also I’m a pretty nifty boxer so I don’t think my reaction time has been slowed. Finally I would (if I were you) check my spelling before saying anyone else sounds stupid, genius.

  • Clr333

    I read that the only reason hemp was illegal was because William Randolph Hearst was getting into plastic when it first came out and spoke out about it in all his newspapers etc. The Government knows this stuff. We are not babies. I would rather my kid smoke a joint than get drunk and do the black out thing at 18 and all the other stuff. Why we let the government push us around is so stupid. Then we are the sheeple.

  • Smokin Jo

    Yeah and laws, fuck em. As long as we aren’t hurting anyone. The law is just there to repress people and make money of of them.

  • None Ya

    WE NEED 2 SPREAD THIS TO EVERY HOUSEHOLD IN THE UNITED STATES… BELIEVERS AND NON BELIEVERS… EVERYONE SHOULD SEE THIS……EVERYONE!!!! =)

  • Tooth_decay2

    everybody looses brain cells, and the only people you see acting retarded are the people who are on hard drugs, you can be 60, and still be the same if you smoked weed lol, weed does nothing harmfull really. how bout trying it out? haha