In April of 2021, the New York State legislature passed the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA) to legalize recreational marijuana use. Communities like Red Hook, where inequitable enforcement of drug laws has led to mass incarceration, are concerned about continuing to be penalized even after legalization.
How will marijuana legalization impact New Yorkers? How can the harm be repaired? Who will benefit? How will it impact youth?
In the Summer of 2021, CUP collaborated with Teaching Artist Elliott Golden and public high school students from the Red Hook Community Justice Center to investigate these questions. Students explored digital filmmaking by shooting commercial parodies, creating stop-motion animations, surveying community members, and interviewing stakeholders and decision makers.
The group gathered what they learned and created a short documentary film that explores the impacts of marijuana legalization on New York. Watch the film below!
Students debuted their final project virtually through a public presentation, where they presented their film and shared their creative process to almost one hundred attendees.
See more photos of students in action here!