From filmmakers Abby Epstein and Ricki Lake (THE BUSINESS OF BEING BORN) comes a fascinating and eye-opening documentary, WEED THE PEOPLE, a film set to educate mainstream audiences about medical cannabis as a human rights issue through the emotional stories of children fighting cancer.

Cannabis has been off-limits to doctors and researchers in the US for the past 80 years, but recently scientists have discovered its anti-cancer properties. Armed with only these laboratory studies, desperate parents obtain cannabis oil from underground sources to save their children from childhood cancers. WEED THE PEOPLE follows these families through uncharted waters as they take their children’s survival into their own hands. Some of their miraculous outcomes beget the unsettling question at the heart of the film: If weed is truly saving lives, why doesn’t the government want people to access it?

Both Abby Epstein and Ricki Lake will be joining us at the Rio Theatre for the Vancouver Premiere of WEED THE PEOPLE, and will participate in a Q&A following the screening on Monday, December 10.

"WEED THE PEOPLE is one part didactic, one part polemic, and one part human story. The documentary methodically alternates among these three, ultimately landing a compelling, if at times sentimental and anecdotal argument." (Film Threat)

Monday, December 10
Doors 5:30 pm | Event 6:30 pm
Advance tickets $15 | $18 at the door

*Must be 19+ w/ID for entry.
**Sorry, Rio Theatre Groupons and passes not accepted for this event.

Abby Epstein made her directing debut at the Sundance Film Festival with the Emmy-Award winning documentary, UNTIL THE VIOLENCE STOPS. Next, she partnered with Ricki Lake for their critically acclaimed film, THE BUSINESS OF BEING BORN, which debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival. Under their partnership BOBB Films, Ricki and Abby created the follow-up series MORE BUSINESS OF BEING BORN and Executive Produced BREASTMILK and THE MAMA SHERPAS. They are currently in production on the documentary, SWEETENING THE PILL. Prior to her film work Abby directed Broadway theater, including RENT and THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES.

Ricki Lake is a pop-culture icon - from acting and producing, to dancing her way into the hearts of television audiences, to Emmy Award-winning television host - who has built a career on her graciously candid sensibility and her authentic, relatable nature. The world first met Lake in 1988 as Tracy Turnblad in John Waters’ film HAIRSPRAY. Lake’s legacy and perhaps her greatest love is her role as independent filmmaker. She has channeled her nurturing spirit and drive for social change into passion projects that are altering the way society views birth, breastfeeding, childhood obesity, birth control and now medical cannabis.

Official Film site www.weedthepeoplemovie.com

WEED THE PEOPLE (Abby Epstein, 2018 / 98 mins) The uplifting and heart-wrenching struggles of families who treat their cancer-stricken children with marijuana, some with astonishing results.