FILMMAKER TO VISIT UNT, SCREEN DOCUMENTARY ON DEBATE OVER MEDICAL USE
OF MARIJUANA

The $1.7 billion medical marijuana industry recently made its
lobbying debut in Washington, D.C., with the National Cannabis
Industry Association launching an effort to amend the federal tax law
so that those who sell marijuana for medical purposes will be equal
to other business owners.

The University of North Texas Department of Radio, Television and
Film will present a free screening of "Waiting to Inhale: Marijuana,
Medicine and the Law," a 2005 documentary that examines the heated
debate over medical use of marijuana in the U.S., April 21.

The event begins at 7 p.m. in room 184 of UNT's Radio, Television,
Film and Performing Arts Building, which is located on the corner of
Welch and Chestnut streets at 1179 Union Circle. The documentary's
filmmaker, Jed Riffe, will introduce the film and answer questions
following the screening.

The medical marijuana industry in the U.S. began as an underground
movement in California, which has 76 percent of the nation's medical
marijuana market. California, 14 other states and Washington, D.C.
have legalized the use of marijuana for medical purposes, with seven
states using dispensaries to sell medical cannabis.

"Waiting to Inhale" was created with funding from Humanities Texas,
the Illinois Humanities Council, the California Council for the
Humanities, the Educational Foundation of America and the Sundance
Documentary Fund. It takes viewers inside the lives of patients who
have used the drug to alleviate severe symptoms of AIDS, cancer and
multiple sclerosis, presenting evidence that marijuana could hold a
big stake in the future of medicine. The film also focuses on parents
who have lost children to marijuana addiction.

"Waiting to Inhale" received a Golden Eagle Award from CINE, an
organization founded in 1957 to recognize the highest quality of
non-theatrical film and video production through its semi-annual film
competitions. The film also received Best Documentary awards from the
New Jersey International Film Festival, the Eureka! International
Film Festival in New York City and the WorldFest-Houston
International Film Festival. A shorter, non-theatrical version of the
film was released in 2010.

Riffe is the owner of Jed Riffe Films + Electronic Media, which
produces websites, enhanced DVDs and other projects in new media. His
other documentaries include "Ishi, the Last Yahi," which was
broadcast on the PBS series "The American Experience" and released
theatrically after winning Best Documentary awards and eight major
national and international film festivals; "Who Owns the Past?,"
which was broadcast on the PBS series "Independent Lens;" "Rosebud to
Dallas;" and his latest, "Smokin' Fish." All of these films depict
the struggles of American Indians and the clash of ancient cultures
with the modern world.

Riffe also was one of three executive producers of "California and
the American Dream," a PBS series broadcast from November 2005 to May
2006. Riffe produced, directed and co-wrote the series' first
episode, "California's 'Lost' Tribes," as well as the fourth episode,
"Ripe for Change." Both episodes received Golden Eagle Awards from
CINE and other significant awards.

Note to editors and reporters: An image of "Waiting to Inhale" is
available at http://web3.unt.edu/news/image.cfm?image=882.