Keep off the Grass

Genre: Educational

Year Published: 1969

Creator: Sid Davis Productions

Format: 16mm

Sound: sound

Description: By 1969, sensationalist scare tactics surrounding marijuana were losing their grip, prompting films like Sid Davis's Keep Off the Grass to adopt a more tempered approach. The story begins with a mother finding a joint in her son Tom’s room, leading to a calm but firm lecture from his father. Avoiding exaggerated claims, Dad discusses the potential effects of marijuana: a loss of ambition, irresponsibility, and habituation, although he acknowledges that it is not physically addictive. Skeptical, Tom is encouraged by his father to investigate further. Tom encounters a range of disengaged individuals at a poolside gathering and a "psychedelicatessen," reinforcing his father’s argument about the apathy induced by marijuana. Policemen add their perspective on the dangers, including broader societal concerns like the "left behind generation." The film concludes with Tom witnessing his friend "Mac" selling pot to a young boy, cementing his agreement with his father’s reasoning. Sid Davis's collaboration with the Santa Monica police and a more subdued tone mark a departure from his earlier, fear-driven narratives, favoring a reasoned appeal to parental authority and self-awareness.

Complete Record: By 1969, sensationalist scare tactics surrounding marijuana were losing their grip, prompting films like Sid Davis's Keep Off the Grass to adopt a more tempered approach. The story begins with a mother finding a joint in her son Tom’s room, leading to a calm but firm lecture from his father. Avoiding exaggerated claims, Dad discusses the potential effects of marijuana: a loss of ambition, irresponsibility, and habituation, although he acknowledges that it is not physically addictive. Skeptical, Tom is encouraged by his father to investigate further. Tom encounters a range of disengaged individuals at a poolside gathering and a "psychedelicatessen," reinforcing his father’s argument about the apathy induced by marijuana. Policemen add their perspective on the dangers, including broader societal concerns like the "left behind generation." The film concludes with Tom witnessing his friend "Mac" selling pot to a young boy, cementing his agreement with his father’s reasoning. Sid Davis's collaboration with the Santa Monica police and a more subdued tone mark a departure from his earlier, fear-driven narratives, favoring a reasoned appeal to parental authority and self-awareness.