‘4×20: Quick Hits’ spotlights trailblazers and moments in pot history

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April 20th, often referred to as 4/20, is widely recognized as a day to celebrate cannabis culture. Even if you don’t participate, you’ll likely be aware of it due to its presence in popular culture.

Marijuana has become much more accepted than it once was – while still federally illegal, many states have legalized it. The stereotypical ‘stoner’ is no longer a reliable source of humor, and cannabis has largely lost its rebellious image as it’s become part of everyday life. In fact, the CDC reports that around 60 million Americans used marijuana in 2022. Celebrities like Snoop Dogg are mainstream media personalities, even commentating at the Olympics, and Seth Rogen co-owns a cannabis company that also sells other products like coffee and furniture. Even this publication has acknowledged the shift by publishing guides to cannabis-related gifts.

Hulu, now owned by Disney, is celebrating today with a new series called “4×20: Quick Hits.” It’s a collection of four short, 20-minute documentaries about the culture surrounding cannabis, and comedian Jimmy Kimmel is one of its executive producers. The series focuses less on the drug itself and more on the creative businesses and artistic endeavors it has sparked. The documentaries take a historical look back, highlighting individuals who faced legal challenges while pursuing their cannabis-related ventures, but who now view those times with a sense of humor and nostalgia.

As a real film buff, I’ve been enjoying a run of really charming and mostly upbeat documentaries lately. One standout is “Bong Voyage,” which tells the story of glassblower Jason Harris – and get this, it’s narrated by one of his glass pieces! It’s got a goofy sense of humor, like when someone calls a piece ‘a fine piece of glass.’ Then there’s “Highly Unlikely,” directed by Brent Hodge, which is a fun, no-nonsense look back at how “Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle” came together. It’s not really about the movie’s pot-smoking plot, but more about how it unexpectedly launched the careers of John Cho and Kal Penn, two Asian-American actors who weren’t well-known at the time. And finally, “The Legend of Ganjasaurus Rex,” directed by Alex Ross Perry, is just adorable. It feels like something Christopher Guest would make! It’s about a small town in California’s Humboldt County back in the late ’80s where locals made a monster movie as a way to subtly protest the authorities, and how that little film continues to inspire people even now.

Kyle Thrash’s documentary, “High Times,” takes a more somber look at the history of the iconic cannabis magazine and the troubled life of its founder, Tom Forçade, who tragically took his own life. The film is particularly captivating through the story of Dana Beal, a Yippie co-founder and lifelong cannabis advocate, who bookends the narrative. We see Beal both in the present day, facing drug trafficking charges after being caught with a large amount of marijuana in Idaho, and actively campaigning for global legalization with his daughter on the streets of New York.

Even if you’re not interested in cannabis, these short documentaries are engaging and can easily hold your attention for about 20 minutes. They’re quick to watch and might inspire you to learn more. They likely won’t suddenly make you want to use cannabis if you don’t already – they didn’t have that effect on me, and might even discourage it. You might be prompted to finally watch “Harold & Kumar,” locate Garberville, check up on Beal, or discover the surprising connection between John Holmstrom (former editor of High Times) and the punk music scene – he also founded Punk magazine and created album art for the Ramones. The full 90-minute version of “Ganjasaurus Rex” is available online, and it’s a perfect watch for those who are celebrating, especially today.

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2026-04-20 13:31