Cannabis is now legal in some form nearly everywhere in the country. But many Americans have no idea how we got there—and they may be surprised when they find out. For those wanting a fuller picture of how marijuana reform began, the new film Join the Club is a great place to start.
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The engaging documentary, directed by Kip Andersen and Chris O’Connell, tells the story of Dennis Peron and the San Francisco Cannabis Buyers Club, widely considered the nation’s first public medical marijuana dispensary. Peron was inspired to start the club after his longtime partner died of AIDS in 1990, seeing firsthand how cannabis improved his partner’s quality of life in his final years. His experience as a dealer and activist resulted in Peron becoming the de facto head of the movement.
What followed was a battle for patients’ rights that culminated in landmark legislation in 1996, Proposition 215, legalizing medical marijuana in California and kick-starting a drug policy revolution that eventually reverberated nationwide.
Andersen told GreenState that Join the Club was inspired by his own relationship with Peron. The filmmaker was the co-founder of another cannabis club, Dharma Producer’s Group in San Francisco, the first to open after Proposition 215 passed via voter initiative. Andersen met the legendary activist at a young age and quickly became engrossed in the battle for reform himself.
“I’ve wanted to tell this story on film for 30 years,” Andersen said. “Dennis was a larger-than-life superhero.”
Join the Club: A movement rooted in queer activism, compassion, and civil disobedience
The production team pieced together archival footage, animation, and interviews with Peron conducted just months before his death in 2018. The result is a heartwarming time capsule showcasing a movement that wasn’t only about pot: it was also about queer rights, the AIDS crisis, and standing up for what was right despite overwhelming odds.
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The themes are incredibly relevant in the modern political landscape. Andersen pointed to contemporary resistance to ICE policies in Minnesota and elsewhere, describing communities whose solidarity with their neighbors supersedes everything else, even as they push back against those in power.
“Dennis took his [enemy]’s hate and transformed it into love,” Andersen recalled. “He realized sometimes, when you’re opposing something, rather than fighting it, you can use that energy for good.”
Join the Club is already making waves on the film festival circuit, amassing several accolades and positive reviews. Now, the filmmakers are bringing it back where it all began with an exclusive screening at the Roxie Theater on Saturday, Feb. 7, in San Francisco. The event, which will include a post-show Q&A, is part of SF Indie Fest. A limited number of tickets are available online.
Asked what he hopes audiences take away from the film, Andersen said he wants them to live as Peron did: to use their voices for good, collaborate with others, and live their truth.
“Lead with love, compassion, boldness,” Andersen urged. “Realize we have this life and make it and live it as large as you can, and ideally for the benefit of all, and have fun while doing it.”
