A Sittingbourne man could become the town’s first Academy Award winner after a documentary he co-produced was long-listed for the Oscars.

Jason Reed, who lives on Homewood Avenue, is one of the makers of Culture High, a film that examines international drug policy.

It includes excerpts of interviews with well-known celebrities, businesspeople and academics including Sir Richard Branson, comedian Rufus Hound and US rapper Snoop Dogg.

The film also includes interviews with respected scientist professor David Nutt, who was sacked from his position as chairman of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) for saying ecstasy was not statistically more dangerous than frequently riding a horse.

“None of us expected to get that far. Obviously, there’s a lot more procedures to go before we make the shortlist but to even get acknowledged by the Oscars is incredible" - Jason Reed

Mr Reed, who is a former Fulston Manor School pupil, took a leading role in creating the documentary because of his experience discussing the politically-sensitive issue of drug policy formation and the science behind addiction.

The 34-year-old said of the early success of the film: “It got announced on the Oscar blog.

“None of us expected to get that far. Obviously, there’s a lot more procedures to go before we make the shortlist but to even get acknowledged by the Oscars is incredible.

“The film is a broad look at global and national drug policy. We look at everything from the politics to the science.”

Mr Reed is a member of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (Leap), which comprises of people working in law-related positions such as police officers, government agents and court officials.

His work in Leap is one of the things that prompted his interest in making the film as it made him believe certain drugs like cannabis should be legalised, particularly for medicinal purposes when treating symptoms of illnesses such as multiple sclerosis and cancer.

He said: “The medical argument for cannabis as a useful substance is very well established and backed up by science.

“It’s hard to ignore the often heartbreaking testimonies that I receive from an array of people who use [it] for serious conditions.”

Mr Reed hopes to have screenings of the film at the town’s Avenue Theatre in January and will be giving a talk in Lewes, East Sussex, on December 12, with departing Home Office minister Norman Baker on medicinal uses of marijuana.