The Cannabis industry has been undergoing a revolution in recent decades. Though the substance remains federally illegal, more and more states are passing legislation that either decriminalizes or outright legalizes Cannabis within their borders that is normalizing the substance’s consumption for the first time in U.S. history. It is nothing short of an uphill battle however, essentially contradicting the War on Drugs that former President George H. W. Bush waged three decades ago that has only further stigmatized recreational drug use. Now a new project is hoping to take an inside look at the battle at the epicenter of the Cannabis Industry: Freeland is a story about a legendary Cannabis farmer who must fight to stay afloat despite changes in legislation, and the North American distribution rights for the project have just been acquired by Dark Star Pictures.
Freeland made its world premiere back in March at the annual SXSW Festival in Austin, TX. The project follows a notorious Cannabis farmer by the name of Devi, played by Krisha Fairchild, who has been breeding and growing Cannabis on her land for decades before legalization begins to sweep through the area. Though on the surface this may seem beneficial for an industry veteran, in the case of Cannabis it has been mostly legal loopholes and headaches for those driving the industry forward. As a result, Devi must fight to save what she has spent her entire life cultivating in order to protect the livelihood of both herself and her employees. At least one party saw the promise in Freeland as Dark Star Pictures has officially acquired the North American distribution rights for the project and are currently planning for a September release date.
As society progresses and evolves, topics like those at the center of Freeland are sure to become increasingly intriguing. Though the story is fictional, the film’s plot highlights a very real struggle for many Americans in the Cannabis industry and serves to illuminate the underbelly of society that is typically overlooked in situations like these. We will just have to wait and see what comes of Mario Furloni and Kate Maclean’s feature debut when it releases this upcoming fall.
