There are moments — and they are few — on this spinning pebble we call Earth that make it okay to dream again. There are times when the stars align just right and something greater than ourselves appears and demands to be recognized. To be held in awe. To be worshipped. Broken down to its most base elements — that is the dream of the “pot movie.”

Perhaps there is no greater reminder of the genius that was Dennis Hopper than the film Leaves of Grass. If Easy Rider was the Godfather of the hippie film movement, then Leaves of Grass is at the very least the Up in Smoke of our times.

The great artistic twist? Edward Norton is both Cheech AND Chong.

The film was written and directed by Tim Blake Nelson. You may remember him as Delmar in O Brother, Where Art Thou? and not so much from Scooby Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed.

Nelson is one of those savants that can direct, act, and — if sources are correct — play Risk with equal skill. He both acts and directs here with scary ease.

The film stars Edward Norton as both a high-powered banker and his twin brother, a brilliant, white trash weed dealer. As always, Norton does exactly as you might expect: acts his ass off.

A small aside about Norton: I don’t like him. I so truly want to hate this man. I’m not sure why. I just always get the feeling that he is his own biggest fan simply because he is a brilliant actor and writer and is more talented asleep than most of Hollywood is awake.

Even when he first struck gold with his incredible turn in Primal Fear, I just had the feeling that, when Richard Gere turned his back, Norton would make fun of him in an exaggerated “retard” voice and silly-walk, saying, “Ooh, look at me! I’m Richard Gere! I was in Officer and a Gentleman. I’m a big star and once had a gerbil in my ass! My friends call me Richard Gerbil…”

Anyway, I suspect that, behind that façade, there is an Edward Norton who is just a total, self-possessed tool. PLUS he slept with Salma Hayek … so obviously, as a person, he is the antichrist … but he’s also one talented lil mofo. And like any abused wife, I shall continue to love him until one of us is dead.

At any rate, in this film, Norton the banker finds out that Norton the weed dealer is dead. Upon returning home, Banker Norton discovers Weed Norton is not dead, but instead has faked his death in an attempt to bring down the head pusher man, played by Richard Dreyfuss.

See: Norton even has contempt for HIMSELF! Using his deeply masked disdain for others, he appears to even mock his own person. (“Ooh, look at me! I’m Edward Norton! I will believe anything I say ’cuz I’m me! I’m so clever. I slept with Salma Hayek! Don’t you just hate me?”)

The odd thing about this film is that, while Leaves does remain a silly movie, it has moments of what can only be called “truth.” The film manages to say a lot about family and belief in yourself and the love that exists in brotherhood.

I was mesmerized watching this film. I laughed. But I was also moved and made to think. It is so hokey when you watch something that comes off as pure silliness to find yourself feeling deeply for the characters and invested in their stories.

As I said earlier, all of this is because of the magic that is weed. It is a beautiful thing. It always has been. It led to the Sgt. Pepper album. Respect it.

Not only is the film good fun, but the cast is wonderful and seems to have every big name that was not busy for a weekend. Keri Russell is in it. Richard Dreyfuss is in it. Director Tim Blake Nelson is in it. Edward Norton is in it — TWICE.

CHRISTOPHER DICKERSON IS IN IT! Who is he? He plays a waiter. And he’s uncredited. BUT HE’S IN IT!

Susan Sarandon is in it. Tim Robbins is not. GOOD. Tim never deserved her. Susan, if you read this, it is imperative that you have my child. Or not. How about we just practice a lot? … I’m willing to pay … a lot … Okay, moving on …

Lucy DeVito is in this film. As you might have guessed, this is the daughter of Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman.

You may also have asked yourself what the mixing of the DeVito/Perlman DNA might result in, and did the said result inspire DeVito’s look as the Penguin? Nope. Lucy is cute as a bug in a rug and is living proof of the mathematical postulate that two negatives do indeed result in a positive.

I just cannot say enough about this film. As many people will attest, pot is my passion. My reason for living. My dream within a dream. It’s also the reason the pizza joint down the road is thriving. (“Marlin’s Pizza — Hey, What Else Ya Got Around Here?”)

I am not ashamed to admit there were times when I had tears in my eyes. At the end of the film, I was even the guy who started the “slow clap”! No one else joined me … bastards.

I plan to see this film many more times before it leaves the theaters. I plan to trumpet its genius to the four corners of the world.

I also plan to get my oil changed. That’s neither here nor there, but I find I need to remind myself as often as possible.

I want to say more incredible things, but this is one movie where I do not want to even hint at pivotal scenes. It is that good.

Still, as much as I plan to spread the good word on this, I suspect Norton would simply treat me as he does others. “Ooh, look at me! I’m K.B. Tokin! I have an ironic name! I once made out with my own cousin! I’m hysterical because weed is funny! And … oops!”

Yeah, Norton, sometimes sarcasm will turn on you! Let that be a lesson!

(By the way, he lied about the cousin. And the gerbil thing — LEAVE RICHARD GERE ALONE!)