Remember Tegridy Farms? Of course you do. They’ve been a recurring feature on the iconic South Park series for years, frequently used not only for laughs, but to expose all kinds of injustices. Now, the fictional marijuana farm has made a new appearance, this time to contribute its two cents to the current cannabis rescheduling saga in the US.
For years, the United States has been locked in a tug-of-war regarding the plant’s legal status. Currently, the possibility of changing its classification as a drug is being considered, from Schedule I (a category shared with substances that are truly dangerous, such as heroin) to Schedule III (reserved for lower-risk drugs, used medicinally). This reform had remained an unfulfilled promise under the previous administration.
Now, President Trump is once again hinting at rescheduling, an initiative included in his campaign promises. However, he has also contradicted himself several times regarding his position, depending on the current political climate and, some argue, his convenience. In his latest statement on the issue, he assured that a decision will be reached “in the coming weeks.” His cabinet is, likewise, divided on the matter.
This week’s South Park episode was right – Cannabis should not be a Schedule 1 drug – a prediction for an upcoming change? $msos pic.twitter.com/nGfiswBngL
— Steven Feldman (@WallBayHoweSt) August 22, 2025
South Park and its acidic portrayal of Trump and the cannabis situation
These twists and turns have not gone unnoticed by the creators of South Park, who decided to get involved in the matter via their already renowned Tegrity Farms. The episode begins with a raid on this crop; perhaps an allusion to the recent real-life case of Glass House Farms, which suffered a major crackdown at the hands of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement). As in real life, the workers are arrested and presumably deported. There is, if you will, a subtle critique of the latent racism in the industry, as the farm’s owner, Randy Marsh, refers to his workers as “my Mexicans.” This wouldn’t be the first time the series has delved into this theme.
To save his company, Marsh enlists the help of ChatGPT and Towelie, a towel whose defining trait is that he’s always transcendently high. Towelie faces a highly militarized Washington to present a hologram of Marsh to president Trump, attempting to persuade him to reclassify cannabis. To this end, he suggests “reaching a mutually beneficial agreement,” and offers Towelie himself as tribute.
Could this be a nod to the donations some cannabis companies have made to MAGA-related causes?
Unfortunately, their offerings don’t seem to cut it, so, SPOILERS everyone, Marsh is forced to close his company. Is this the end of Tegridy Farms? Only time will tell.
Needless to say, South Park has evidently stepped up its criticism of the US president in its latest episodes. Donald Trump is portrayed as unusually swayed by flattery and gifts, which appear to take top priority. He’s even imagined in a strained relationship with Satan, who’s eager to part ways. Plenty of jabs are also aimed at the president’s masculinity.
The episode also misses no opportunity to poke fun at several current fashion trends, such as the use and abuse of AI, over-reliance on ChatGPT, and microdosing with ketamine, cleverly framed as satirical takes on overuse and dependency.
Cover image: paradoxically, crated with ChatGPT
This article was originally published in El Planteo.
