MVFF44 (Bronze/Silver)

Now that this history can be more openly told, it’s clear that when it comes to marijuana, women have been the most vital pioneers. Chris J. Russo’s amiable documentary celebrates the women and marginalized people who've truly tended the roots of cannabis culture, from innovating in medicinal usage and organic agriculture to combating discrimination. Living and working within the so-called Emerald Triangle of Humboldt, Trinity, and Mendocino Counties, where descendants of back-to-the-landers and new transplants alike carry on the legacy of communal agriculture, the subjects of Lady Buds face a mountain of obstacles, but bravely keep fighting for a greater understanding of cannabis’ healing potential. Russo explores the rapidly changing nature of an only recently legalized industry without ever losing sight of the grassroots farmers, horticulturists, and activists of a once-underground culture now at risk of corporate takeover.