Whether you want to dig deeper into a particular subject or you merely want a good laugh, there are a number of books out there that revolve around weed. From cookbooks to memoirs to educational volumes, here are some books to help you get started on building your own cannabis library.
The Pot Book: A Complete Guide to Cannabis by Julie Holland
Read this if you want to learn about weed’s psychological and physiological effects, as well as its role in policy, parenting, creativity, spirituality, and business. Compiled by well-known psychiatrist Julie Holland, and featuring contributions from Andrew Weil, Lester Grinspoon (prominent medical marijuana expert), Tommy Chong, Allen St. Pierre from the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, and others, this book is a comprehensive educational guide on cannabis.
How to Smoke Pot (Properly): A Highbrow Guide to Getting High by David Bienenstock
Written by cannabis journalist David Bienenstock, this book is a laugh-out-loud funny guide to everything weed. From learning the history of weed to the difference between wax and shatter, and of course, how to roll a joint, this book is a great read for noobs and veteran enthusiasts alike.
The Cannabis Manifesto: A New Paradigm for Wellness by Steve DeAngelo
Written by Steve DeAngelo, founder of the world’s largest dispensary Harborside Health Center in Oakland, this book covers humanity’s relationship to weed and makes a health and social justice case for why it should be legal. According to DeAngelo, there’s no such thing as “recreational” cannabis, as any use of the plant can have a therapeutic effect.
The Emperor Wears No Clothes by Jack Herer
Written by the renowned activist Jack Herer, the namesake for today’s popular sativa strain, this classic chronicles the political war on the cannabis plant, and the various uses of hemp for food, textiles, medicine, energy, paper, and more. Herer also digs into the racial implications of prohibition.
The Ganja Kitchen Revolution: The Bible of Cannabis Cuisine by Jessica Catalano
In this cookbook, medical marijuana advocate and chef Jessica Catalano teaches you that edibles are about more than just using old bud to make weed butter for brownies. In particular, she illustrates how you can pair specific strains to complement the flavor of the dish you’re making. Whether you’re a skilled chef or just learning out to cook, this book is easy to follow no matter your skill level in the kitchen.
Just Say Yes: A Marijuana Memoir by Catherine Hiller
Both funny and candid, Catherine Hiller recounts her fifty-year relationship to cannabis and how it’s influenced all aspects of her life — motherhood, work, sex, friendship, and marriage. With fun descriptions of Woodstock and New York City in the 1960s, Hiller most importantly shows that it’s possible and not such a bad thing to live a normal life that integrates cannabis.
Mary Jane: The Complete Marijuana Handbook for Women by Cheri Sicard
This guide covers everything women care most about in regard to weed. Writer Cheri Sicard shows her audience how to incorporate cannabis into a healthy, stylish, fun lifestyle. Whether you want to use cannabis to liven up your next party or to help you sleep, Sicard’s advice runs the gamut. She’ll teach you how to make easy edibles, how to build your own DIY pipe, how to concoct remedies for everyday ailments, and even how to grow your own garden.
Artificial Paradises by Charles Baudelaire
If you’re looking for an old classic, look no further than Baudelaire, a member of the 19th century Parisian Club des Hashishins. Released in 1860, this memoir documents Baudelaire’s hallucinations and dreamy hash-induced thoughts and visions. Sometimes whimsical, sometimes disturbing, you’ll get a feel for the writer’s romantic, tragic life and intoxicated trances.
