Product Description

Jack Herer has updated his authoritative history of hemp's myriad uses and of the war on this plant, just as it has become high-profile news, with supporters such as Woody Harrelson and Willie Nelson. Herer thoroughly documents the petrochemical industry's plot to outlaw this renewable source of paper, energy, food, textiles, and medicine. Photos, illustrations & charts. 10 tables.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #122901 in Books
• Published on: 2000-11
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 330 pages

Customer Reviews

Perfect primer for wary readers...
This book's strength is its easy readability, a fact that should be stressed. Too often books dealing with the subject of drugs are either too dry and scientific or to New Age and flower child. While this book does focus on the positive aspects of marijuana usage (sometimes to border on "hippyish") I feel it does so in a way that does not alienate those who might be nervous about reading drug-positive literature.

First, let's use the words cannabis or hemp instead of marijuana - as the author suggests - and second, let's get this book out to everyone over the age of 15 or 16. Parents, before you talk with your kids about "marijuana", read this book! Why? This book is not about "sparking a bowl" and getting high: This book uses facts and common sense to explain the history of cannabis and its uses (which are far more than medicinal), what cannabis has done and can do for humanity, and the governmental/commercial conspiracy against cannabis (and its advocates) in the US. The recreational use of hemp is but one facet of this informative book.

"The Emperor Wears No Clothes" changed my life. The lies and propaganda we Americans have been fed about cannabis (particularly in recent generations) is not only astounding but sickening, and Jack Herer necessarily shines a bright light into the dark recesses of our nation's cannabis hypocrisy.

Fun But Serious
This huge collection of generously illustrated historical material is a lot of fun; with the humorous tone of the narration that runs throughout, you almost forget the magnitude of the harm this long-running Drug War has caused to society. But it is all documented here: the many-thousand-year history of hemp; its recent fall from grace due to racism, puritanism, and business-government corruption; the enormous damage from Prohibition; the numerous potential benefits; and the support for legalization from many, many respected public figures. Oversized and colorful, this comprehensive book makes an excellent present and introduction to hemp re-legalization.

The final word on marijuana and hemp ecology
Although some of the historical data can be called into question, the essential claims of this book remain unrefuted by the disinformation campaigns of the anti-marijuana lobby. Herer shatters cannabis myths; he shows, with hard data that: pot has absolutely no toxicity to human tissues; pot has anti-carcinogenic properties; the tar, although greater in proportion than tobacco, is completely water-soluble; smoking marijuana shortly after having a stroke prevents the swelling of the brain -- and consequently much of the brain damage and loss of function associated with strokes.