BOOK REVIEW
The Pot Book: A Complete Guide to Cannabis
Edited by Julie Holland, M.D.
Publisher: Park Street Press
There’s no shortage of recently published books claiming to be the most authoritative or most thorough tome on the subject of cannabis. Many lean heavily on the political or social ramifications of this much beloved (and much ostracized) plant, but end up coming off as overly pedantic or preachy. Others revel in pop culture glee (check out Reefer Movie Madness or the classic Baked Potatoes) and cheekily reveal the smoke and mirrors behind our favorite movies and music. The Pot Book proves you can have it all. Delving into the medical, political, scientific and cultural dimensions of marijuana, this hefty 551-page book covers a lot of territory that both stimulates cerebrally (check out Chapter 4’s “The Botany of Cannabis” or Chapter 16’s “Arrest Statistics and Racism”) and takes time to prod at the more light-hearted (but still serious) side of things, such as “Getting Busted is Not So Funny,” an interview with Tommy Chong by editor (and medical doctor) Julie Holland. With a contribution by famed Marijuana Reconsidered author (another M.D.) Lester Grinspoon, this book acknowledges the shoulders of the giants it’s standing on as well as laying a framework for tomorrow’s discussion about the oft-cited plant that has everyone’s attention. (Matt Tapia)
