HARRELSON MAKES HIS VOICE HEARD ON THE HISTORY OF HEMP

Actor Narrated `Grass,' A Film About Marijuana Laws

Woody Harrelson has a reputation for getting behind causes. A few years
ago, he climbed the Golden Gate Bridge, protesting the destruction of
ancient redwood groves. He lent his support to the Proposition 215
campaign, the medical marijuana initiative, and has been outspoken on the
virtues of hemp. He also has a reputation as one of the nicest and most
unaffected guys in the movie business.

On Friday, ``Grass,'' a colorful documentary about the history of marijuana
in the United States, opens at the Castro Theatre. Harrelson is the
narrator. ``I think it's fantastic,'' Harrelson says by phone from Hawaii.
``It's very informative, but in a way that's very entertaining. It shows
how marijuana came to became a big prejudice.''

The film, by Ron Mann, maintains a tone of lighthearted bemusement, even as
it piles on evidence that the war on drugs has been a waste. The movie
traces the evolution of anti-marijuana laws and shows how, despite huge
expenditures, more and more people used marijuana as the 20th century
progressed.

``I do smoke,'' Harrelson says, ``but I don't go through all this trouble
just because I want to make my drug of choice legal. It's about personal
freedom. We should have the right in this country to do what we want, if we
don't hurt anybody. Seventy-two million people in this country have smoked
pot. Eighteen to 20 million in the last year. These people should not be
treated as criminals.

``Last year there were 700,000 arrests for pot -- 90 percent for simple
possession. These are otherwise perfectly fine, law-abiding people. I think
there needs to be some fairness. Pharmaceuticals kill 100,000 a year.
Cigarettes kill 500,000. How many people are killed by alcohol, and yet the
best commercials on television are about how great and wonderful it is to
drink Budweiser and Miller. How many people are dying from smoking pot? I
don't even suggest that anybody smoke it. But they shouldn't go to jail for
it.''

Despite his commitment to causes, Harrelson doesn't belong to any political
organization. ``I stay as far away from politics as possible. It's corrupt
from within. The system is a fraud, though I do like Gore. He's talking
about the most important thing: One-fifth of all mammals face extinction
now. We're plucking all these strands out of the web -- not we -- but
electrochemical companies, mining, timber. I'm worried it might get a lot
worse before it gets better.''

Harrelson thinks that big money is behind the war on drugs. ``It continues
because it's lucrative. By the government's own account, 101 billion
dollars have been spent. Think of what you can do with a billion dollars.
Like when Ted Turner gave a billion to . . . what's the name? Oh, come on.
. . .'' Then he laughs. ``See, there are drawbacks.''

Harrelson, whose most recent movie was ``Play It to the Bone,'' with
Antonio Banderas, has no new movie in the pipeline. ``I'm looking at some
things, but nothing yet,'' he says. ``I'm not making a movie here (in
Hawaii); it's just a vacation. My parents are here. The whole family. I'm
hanging out with my kids, who are 7 and 3. That's probably the most
restorative thing to my mind. I realized I was spending their formative
years working, so I've cut back.''

What Harrelson is really looking forward to these days is acting in ``The
Late Henry Moss,'' which will open the fall season at San Francisco's Magic
Theatre. Also in the cast will be Sean Penn and Nick Nolte, with Sam
Shepard, who wrote the play, directing.

``I was hanging out with Sean, and one night he mentioned he was doing it.
Billy Bob Thornton was talking about doing it, but he couldn't. I called
Sean and told him my schedule could work it out. I'm not doing this for the
money. I'm a huge fan of Sam Shepard. I'm psyched.''

``By the way, the United Nations,'' Harrelson says, as the conversation
winds to a close. ``That's who Ted Turner gave the billion dollars to.''

E-mail Mick LaSalle at lasalle@sfgate.com