It comes as no surprise that the landscape of crime action movies has changed along with significant shifts in societal norms. One of the most noticeable shifts in recent years is the legalization of cannabis. In the past, cannabis was usually portrayed as illegal which is why it was always associated with underground deals and smuggling plots.
These days, cannabis has become legalized in more countries. As a result, it is no longer portrayed as contraband. Instead, the focus of most action films these days is the potential for crime that still lingers around the edges of this industry. After all, there are still tensions between legal and illegal cannabis operations.
The Changing Role of Cannabis in Film Plots
Before the legalization of cannabis in many countries around the world, it has always been portrayed in connection with criminal activity. Plots usually revolve around cartel violence and smuggling operations for cannabis. Some movies like Blow or Pineapple Express depict marijuana as a central element in underground empires, which has significantly reinforced its association with crime.
But since cannabis has been legalized in countries like Canada and many states in the USA, narratives of action movies have since changed. Modern action films are now exploring the grey areas that have emerged when the cannabis industry was regulated.
At present, action movies are exploring the conflicts between legal entrepreneurs and those that are still operating outside the law. This opens up a new range of plotlines. For example, legal cannabis businesses can become the target of extortion, sabotage, or takeovers by organized crime. Since organized crime still seeks control over the black market, action movies can focus on popular strains like the horchata strain and make it the prized product in such stories.
The Grey Area Between Legal and Illegal Operations
Crime action thrillers focus on the grey area between legal and illegal operations. This is because a large portion of the cannabis market still operates illegally, especially in countries where it hasn’t been legalized yet. Plotlines for cases like this include smuggling cannabis or cross-border conflicts.
Meanwhile, movies that are set in regions where cannabis is legal, like California, often depict a competitive market where both legitimate business owners and criminal elements fight for control. Action movies could highlight the struggles between those who grow marijuana legally and those who still dominate illegal operations.
Marijuana seeds play an important role in these narratives, especially since it is the source of both legal cultivation and illegal grow operations. High-quality seeds from reputable sources, like Amsterdam’s Barney’s Farm, add depth to these stories by introducing elements of quality control and intellectual property theft, as criminals try to steal from legitimate businesses.
Tensions in International Crime Thrillers
International crime thrillers that deal with cannabis are on a different level, especially if cannabis has not yet been legalized in the country where the plot is set. Most action movies then explore the struggles that arise with cannabis not being legal in some countries while being totally legal in others.
Action movies can also focus on global drug cartels that seek to monopolize even countries where cannabis has not been made legal yet. Since their operations are considered as illegal in these countries, there are many conflicts that could arise that would effectively serve as the basis of a good action film.
The Future of Cannabis in Action Films
As cannabis is continuously gaining acceptance and becoming more ingrained in mainstream culture, we can all expect its role in action movies to evolve further. While cannabis might no longer be the villainous product at the heart of violent drug wars, it still plays a key role in stories about corporate espionage, cross-border smuggling, and underground crime.
There are still so many plotlines where the tension between legal and illegal cannabis operations will be the focus; all the while depicting cannabis as a valuable commodity. The horchata strain and marijuana seeds offer a unique way to tie the modern cannabis industry into thrilling crime narratives, which allows filmmakers to explore both the legal changes and the dark underworld that still surrounds this swiftly evolving industry.