Cannabis Culture: A Journey Through Disputed Territory

by Patrick Matthews

Over the last 30 years, millions of people have come in contact with cannabis, but there is surprisingly little information available that examines the drug as a whole—its medicinal properties, its function as a commodity traded on a global scale, its role in religion, the many ways it can be cultivated, and its effect on body and mind. In Cannabis Culture, journalist Patrick Matthews finds that researchers have unraveled the complexities of the plant, uncovering in the process much of the chemistry of our minds and emotions. In addition to scientists, Matthews meets a colorful mix of characters—connoisseurs, criminals, and cultivators—who together make up the new cannabis culture.

Genres: Nonfiction, Drugs, Sociology

254 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1999

Reviews

[Cwn_annwn_13 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Matthews does a good job with this book for the most part. He covers a lot of bases for a book that weighs in at 250 pages. Among other things chapters on medical Marijuana, Amsterdam, Hemp, hysterical Marijuana witchhunts and propaganda, profiles of Amsterdam breeders, an account of his trip to the biggest Hashish producing area in Morocco. The account of the Cannabis Cup in Amsterdam was somewhat humorous with his observations about it almost seemed like a tribute to black American/Carribean culture with old hippies singing old blues songs, young hippy "Rastas" and white hip hoppers, but yet the attendees of the Cannabis Cup were virtually all white.

One not surprising thing exposed in this is the Partnership for a Drug Free America(they are the ones that put out the idiotic "public service" spots with the egg frying saying this is your brain on weed) gets millions of dollars from big Pharma companies, Dupont, Anheuser-Busch, big Tobacco and Whiskey makers. I was shocked to find that the billionaire scumbag banker funded a conference thats main purpose was not whether or not Marijuana should be legalized but what is the best way to go about legalizing it. Who knows what shady motivations Soros has for funding the conference.

The faults Cannabis Culture has are for whatever reason Matthews idioticly goes out of his way to attempt to debunk Jack Herers uncovering of the anti-Hemp conspiracy involving the Hearst media empire, Dupont Chemical, the Federal Treasury and high level law enforcement officials. Even though its only a few years old some of this book is a little outdated because things are moving so fast lately on the Marijuana front. Another fault is its too Britcentric (yeah I know he's a Brit and thats why, but still) Britain has never been the epicenter of Cannabis activity. It lags behind North America and the rest of Europe. The UK is full of garbage "soapbar" Hash and the average British stoner is a total tool. Referring to any strong weed as "Skunk", no matter what strain it happens to be. So yeah there are a few things I didn't like about this book but for the most part its a good, interesting and worthwhile read.

[Ian Callagy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very openminded examination of cannabis and the culture surrounding it. Matthews succeeds in demystifying the weed and gives a common sense analysis of the legal situation with regard to this much misuderstood plant. I found it a joy to read, almost as nice as smoking a joint in fact!

[Boaconha Brasil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Propomos este espaço na WEB para informar e promover um amplo debate sobre a política do uso de drogas que o Brasil deve adotar.

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[Phil James · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was interesting and well researched. Overall the author gave a reasonably balanced overview of cannabis culture, if a little sympathetic towards the pro cannabis side. However he was very focused on the relatively small number of people who are involved extensively in growing cannabis and are connoisseurs of it. The more typical users who smoke at weekends or as part of their daily life were not really explored.

[Jonathan Resendez · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit too old at this point in time. Also, being an American made some aspects of the book either uninteresting (I know that sounds douchey) or hard to grasp. I did scribble about three pages worth of notes that justified powering through the book.