Trailer Park Boys: a marijuana messiah

In today’s society, marijuana is becoming blatantly more pervasive in every day life as well as the national and global markets. It is becoming favored by the masses and has generated a significant source of revenue for the U.S. in just this past year alone. Yet, as beneficial and as benevolent marijuana may seem to more progressive minds, old souls are still clinging to traditional values that state marijuana is an evil substance that provides nothing for society. In recent years, comics and T.V. shows have supported the fight for marijuana use through satire. A stunning example of this technique is the hit Canadian television series, Trailer Park Boys. 

The show follows the comedic escapades of recidivist cons, Ricky, Julian, and Bubbles as they employ their many half-baked get-rich-quick schemes each season. At the finale of each season, the boys go to jail for some marijuana related crime that resulted from some sort of hijinks. From a glance, the show seems to make fun of marijuana itself, but after more in-depth analysis, it can be seen that the director’s tend to use the exaggerated stereotypes of marijuana as a comedic device. But, at the core of the show’s plot, the viewer can clearly see the realism in comparison of marijuana to alcohol or cigarettes. For example, at innumerable instances throughout each season, trailer park supervisor and ex-police officer, Jim Lahey, tries to put a stop to the boys’ plans. However, these attempts all end in vain due to his addiction to alcohol. Jim, himself even realizes this as he confesses to his ex-wife Barb, “Whenever I’m sober, the boys are careful. They’re scared of me ‘cause they’ll know what I’ll do. So they’re cautious. It’s hard to catch ‘em. But when I’m drinking, their shit-guards are down and they fuck up. But the problem is when I’m drinking, I fuck up too.” Many other situations come up where the individuals who are intoxicated with alcohol end up getting in some sort of trouble. However, on the other hand, any time there is someone ‘high’ on marijuana, given that there isn’t already a conflict brewing between characters, these people are usually happy, laid back and generally docile. In comparison to cigarettes, there are multiple occasions in which Ricky, considered to be one of the dumbest people there is in terms of common sense, has a heart attack while smoking a cigarette or requests one during the process of his near death experience. 

The show also tries to make general statements in relation to marijuana and every day life. As an example, Ricky offers Randy, the assistant supervisor, some rocks of hash before he gets to work on Ricky’s trailer. When Randy objects Ricky responds with, “It’s shitty work. Everybody does that, alright? Carpenters, electricians, dish washers, floor cleaners, lawyers, doctors, fuckin’ politicians, CDC employees, principals, people who paint the lines on the fuckin’ road. Get stoned, it’ll be fun, and get to work!” Now, due to Ricky’s not so subtle demeanor, this is obviously a bit exaggerated. But, the point he is trying to get across is that marijuana generates absolutely no inhibition to workplace productivity. It also brings to light the mass demand for marijuana across a wide range of different personalities. Again, this should not be misconstrued as saying being stoned while working is acceptable because it is clearly not. Whenever Ricky is working, he is stoned and, as a result of that, usually screws up in some way shape or form that gets him and his friends into trouble with the law. 

Lastly, the show tends to make references to how harmless the people who distribute marijuana really are. At multiple points Julian, Ricky, Bubbles, and other characters talk about how they are never out to hurt anyone. Rather, they only wish to make money, smoke their pot, and have a good time in the trailer park. Sarah truly capitalizes on this when she says, “the only problem those guys make is bringing guns into the situation.” Looking back through their nine seasons of smoke-filled hijinks, every season begins with them being released from jail, crafting some new scheme, and then going right back at the end of the season. However every time they are apprehended by authorities, it is because they were drunk and firing of hand guns. In conclusion, the Trailer Park Boys give plenty of reasons as to why marijuana should be embraced by society instead of rejected. Their peaceful demeanor while stoned along with their harmless intentions should be reason enough alone to say that this prohibition against marijuana is futile and wrongful.