The best books on cannabis: learn all about weed and its culture

To celebrate World Book Day, in this post we'd like to share a list of the best books on cannabis – the most relevant and the most highly recommended, in our opinion – across the different subjects surrounding this ancient plant: history, culture, cooking, science and therapeutic uses.

Books to dive headfirst into the world of cannabis

If we look at the cannabis plant through the eyes of History, its prohibition is a crazed outburst of modernity: the offspring of the end of Prohibition and the mafia workforce it left idle, of the worldwide Great Depression of the 1930s, of the fashion for paternalistic states, and of lobbying by some of the big companies of the day, above all the chemical firm DuPont. A ray of darkness in a luminous universe.

But digging into the history of prohibition will have to wait for another post. What is remarkable about this global cancellation, which began almost 100 years ago, is that an attempt was made to erase a very rich history of the relationship between human beings and the magical plant, which the Swede Carl Linnaeus named *Cannabis sativa *L. in 1753.

The book as a treasured object that preserves the memory of peoples is also key to what we know about the social origins of the cannabis plant. The first medicinal reference to the plant appears, for instance, in a Chinese herbal, the Pen Tsao Ching, from five millennia ago. The Vedic texts mention it in their health-giving preparations and, in fact, a well-argued hypothesis holds that the apocryphal Gospels speak of this herb as an ingredient of the Holy Anointing.

However, until after the first half of the 20th century, modern man closed himself off to the idea of getting to know and understand the cannabis plant (and so understand himself a little), and gave in to the demonising view that took hold of minds the world over.

That stigma around cannabis began to change in the 1970s, with the reappraisal of the plant begun by the psychiatrist Lester Grinspoon – not without difficulty. Decades later, the processes of regulation and legalisation got under way and we started talking about the forbidden again. Finally, the spread of the internet allowed books about weed to start appearing once more: on history, cooking, growing, economics, sociology. Today the range of “cannabis literature” available is wide and global.

Recommended books on cannabis

This is a whimsical list, meant as a guide, of the books I consider most interesting for getting to know and better understand our beloved cannabis. Some are available in Spanish, others in English.

Books on cannabis you can buy at Cannactiva

If this list has given you the urge to start reading, these are the books on cannabis, CBD and the history of psychoactive substances that we stock in our shop, in Spanish:

Books on the history of cannabis and its culture: from its origins to the present day

Of the many books I've read on the history of the plant, I'd like to highlight these first two, which were – and still are – a source of reference and information for my work, and which I drew on for my own book:

Cannabis: A History, by Martin Booth (2003)

This is a fascinating and exhaustive book on the history of the cannabis plant and its relationship with humankind over the centuries. The English novelist Martin Booth (1944–2004) traced the plant's history through medical advances and religious enlightenment.

The work is a detailed, well-documented narrative of political subterfuge and law enforcement; smugglers, dealers, gangs, writers, artists and musicians. With all that, the author presents a complete and objective analysis of the controversy surrounding cannabis, and focuses on unravelling the myths and misunderstandings that have grown up around this plant and that led to its prohibition across the Western world.

Smoke Signals: A Social History of Marijuana, by Martin A. Lee (2012)

Martin A. Lee, an investigative journalist, traces the dramatic social history of cannabis from its origins to its emergence, in the 1960s, as a defining force in an ongoing culture war. The author describes how the underground cannabis subculture overcame opposition from the US government and transformed itself into a dynamic, multi-billion-dollar industry.

Marihuana, la historia. De Manuel Belgrano a las copas cannábicas, by Fero Soriano (2017)

I wrote this book thinking of the adventures, the journey, the partying, the struggle, the healing and the persecution that many users suffer – myself included. I traced the historical path of this plant, from China 5,000 years ago to today's cannabis cups. These are chronicles that tell the story of the ancestral relationship between humans and cannabis, the reconstruction of a history denied for almost a century. With the voices of the underground, the court battles, scientific advances, the supportive community of growers, religions, cinema and rock.

Marihuana Reconsidered, by Lester Grinspoon (1971)

Cannabis regulation in the United States is, to a large extent, the offspring of the work of the psychiatrist and Harvard professor Lester Grinspoon. In 1971 he published “Marijuana Reconsidered”, after setting out to research the plant to convince a friend who smoked a lot of joints (the mysterious Mr X, who deserves a story of his own) that it wasn't doing him any good. The work he did literally turned his thinking upside down. And Lester became a reference point when it came to making the case for legalisation.

In his book, Grinspoon – who once marched alongside John Lennon chanting “legalisation” – demolishes the myths, lies and distortions surrounding cannabis and its use. Is cannabis the first step towards heroin addiction? Can long-term cannabis use cause brain damage? Are crime and violence linked to smoking weed? Does cannabis use lead to sexual licentiousness? Can cannabis boost creativity? Does smoking cannabis affect a person's genetic balance? Will American society change drastically if cannabis is legalised? These were some of the questions Grinspoon chose to answer; he is also the author of “Marihuana, the Forbidden Medicine”, published in 1997 with another prestigious doctor, James B. Bakalar.

Becoming a Marihuana User, by Howard Becker (1953)

This book offers a fascinating sociological perspective on the recreational use of cannabis. Becker, a sociologist and jazz musician, challenges the traditional belief that cannabis use is linked to individual psychological predisposition or to mental health problems. Instead, he argues that cannabis use is the result of social learning and group interaction.

What if cannabis use had nothing to do with a psychological predisposition, as some still believe, let alone with a mental health problem? What if it were the result of learning? This is the question that, in the early 1950s, Howard Becker asked himself in order to make sense of the recreational use of cannabis at a time when everyone saw its use as abuse.

The book explores the idea that the sensations produced by cannabis are not automatically or necessarily pleasurable, but are acquired through social interaction and the ability to recognise and enjoy these effects. Becker convincingly shows that people develop a motivation for recreational cannabis use when they learn to smoke it in a way that produces real effects and are able to appreciate the sensations they experience.

It's a classic and essential reading for anyone interested in understanding the role of social learning in recreational cannabis use. Becker, a true master of sociology, demolishes prejudice with a text that was scathing for its time. Have a good trip.

The Emperor Wears No Clothes, by Jack Herer (1985)

It's one of the most influential and iconic books on the history and use of the cannabis plant. First published in 1985, the book has become a cultural reference for cannabis legalisation activists.

The book's title refers to Hans Christian Andersen's tale “The Emperor's New Clothes” (1837), in which a child exposes the fact that the Emperor isn't wearing an invisible garment but is naked. In this essay, Jack Herer draws an analogy between the moral of the tale and the falsehood of the official theories against cannabis.

Herer explores the historical and cultural uses of hemp and cannabis, as well as their medicinal and therapeutic properties. He also makes the case for legalising cannabis and tackles US drug policy at a time when the harshest prohibitionism held sway.

One of the book's highlights is its detailed analysis of the history of hemp and cannabis, and their role in the world economy. Herer argues that cannabis prohibition is rooted in economic interests, and that the plant has been unfairly demonised throughout history.

Hungry for more history? In our shop you'll find Historia de las drogas (illustrated atlas), Norman Ohler's two essays, El gran delirio and Un viaje alucinógeno, and the history of LSD told by its discoverer in LSD. Cómo descubrí el ácido, by Albert Hofmann.

Books on growing cannabis at home

Marijuana Horticulture: The Indoor/Outdoor Medical Grower's Bible, by Jorge Cervantes (1983)

This is another classic of cannabis literature, written by the American Jorge Cervantes in the early 1980s. Cervantes, also known as George Van Patten, is considered the guru of home growing. His comprehensive guide to growing cannabis has been translated into several languages, and was banned at one time in countries such as Australia and Canada.

The book covers a wide range of topics related to growing cannabis. It includes growing techniques, seed selection, growing media, lighting, ventilation, watering, fertilising, pests and diseases; outdoor and indoor techniques; harvest and much more. Cervantes also includes a wealth of detailed information on the history of cannabis and its medicinal and therapeutic uses, with hundreds of photographs and infographics.

Books on the medicinal benefits of cannabis

Cannabis Pharmacy: The Practical Guide to Medical Marijuana, by Dr Andrew Weil MD and Michael Backes (2022)

This book, recently published by Dr Andrew Weil MD and Michael Backes, presents the science of the plant in an approachable, easy-to-understand way and focuses on the key concepts without being overly technical.

It's a guide that offers an all-round look at medical cannabis: the basics of the plant, education on the effects of THC and CBD and how they work in the body; a step-by-step guide to choosing a suitable product and how to use it; tips for a positive experience, and even preparations and a template diary for tracking progress in treatment. The book includes information on dosage, side effects and things to bear in mind when using cannabis.

The Cannabis Pharmacy: A Complete Guide to CBD and THC Use, by Laurie Wolf and Mary Wolf (2021)

In the same vein, The Cannabis Pharmacy, by the renowned cannabis expert and writer Laurie Wolf, is another good guide to the cannabis path today, with recipes for making balms and massage oils, right through to birthday cakes and sweets.

Prefer it in Spanish and up to date? In our shop you'll find La Biblia del CBD, by Dr Dani Gordon; CBD. El cannabis medicinal: guía para el paciente, by Leinow and Birnbaum; and Cannabis medicinal, by José Carlos Bouso.

Cannabis cookbooks

The cannabis cookbook, by Pamella Orgor (2021)

Fancy getting high in gourmet style? In this book Orgor brings you simple, creative and fun recipes to share and surprise. It contains more than 25 delicious recipes, including cannabis gummy bears, breakfasts, brownies and oils. Plus baked sweets and mind-blowing savoury treats.

There are quick and easy recipes, from a “cannahoney” to a spinach and cannabis quiche for an unforgettable brunch, to Hungarian crêpes infused with cannabis. A book designed to make cooking with cannabis easy, simple and fun, in which the author combines simple recipes for beginners with dishes for more advanced cooks: cannabis pancakes, cannabis chocolate fudge, biscuits and much more.

That's it for our recommendations!

There are many excellent books on cannabis that can give you an interesting and entertaining read. Celebrate World Book Day in a unique and meaningful way: give cannabis flower and a lovely book to someone special. Happy World Book Day!

You'll find these and other books on cannabis, psychedelia and plants in our books section.