Premiered at the 2025 Tribeca Film Festival, Kiss My Grass is a powerful documentary short narrated and executive produced by Rosario Dawson. The film uncovers systemic racial inequities in the cannabis industry and the long-lasting impact of the war on drugs, especially on marginalized communities.
Growing up in a multiracial family in New York City, Dawson witnessed firsthand how cannabis laws were enforced differently depending on race. “My dad, who is white, could grow weed on our fire escape without issue,” she said. “But my mom knew that wasn’t safe for us as kids — because that privilege didn’t apply to everyone.”
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Dawson’s personal experience with her father, who later used cannabis to manage cancer-related symptoms in California, shaped her understanding of medical access disparities and social privilege. She emphasized how her father’s ability to openly discuss cannabis with his doctor reflected a privilege denied to many in marginalized communities.
The documentary is co-directed by Mary Pryor, a cannabis equity advocate and founder of Cannaclusive and Sheba, Baby! Pryor’s motivation was deeply personal — her own father was a victim of the war on drugs. “This is about triple marginalization — being Black, being a woman, and having chronic health conditions,” Pryor noted.
Pryor and co-director Mara Whitehead aimed to broaden the narrative beyond just one group. Kiss My Grass features diverse voices — Black, white, and Latina — to illustrate that cannabis-related injustice affects people across all backgrounds. “This isn’t an isolated issue,” said Pryor. “It’s systemic.”
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Whitehead, who grew up in Colorado, admitted she didn’t initially grasp the racial nuances of cannabis policy. However, her involvement in the film became a transformative journey. “Meeting these women shook me to my core,” she revealed. “So much of this is happening in the dark.”
The film also sheds light on how Black women in the cannabis space often bond over shared trauma. Pryor highlighted the importance of collective growth and healing. “We have to grow together to push for the truth — to get to the other side, which is all about humanity.”
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Dawson praised the courage of the women in the documentary and commended Pryor for spearheading the project. “This wasn’t just about their own stories — it’s about lifting entire communities,” she said.
Kiss My Grass was produced by Ashaki “Saki” Fenderson, Luke Anderson, and Justin Benoliel, with executive production from Dawson, Colin Kaepernick, Nancy Whiteman, and Hilary Yu.
