Taking an online cannabis course isn’t the only way to educate yourself about weed. There are also plenty of entertaining and educational books about the cannabis world, whether you want to learn about growing, cooking, or running a business. Below are some of the most popular books that will teach you everything you’ve ever wanted to know about all things cannabis.
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THE CANNABIS GROW BIBLE
This is the book my husband and I used to grow two weed plants in our spare bedroom closet. The Cannabis Grow Bible is basically a textbook that will walk you through literally every step of growing your first cannabis plant, so whenever the plant does something new, you have a resource that will tell you exactly what’s happening, why it’s happening, and what to expect next. It even includes some recipes for oils and tinctures that you can make with your finished product.
THE CANNABIS ENCYCLOPEDIA: THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO CULTIVATION & CONSUMPTION OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA
The Cannabis Encyclopedia is next on my buy list because it goes a step further than growing and dives into the history of medical cannabis, cannabinoid measurements, and case studies based on different growing methods.
THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARY: UNDERSTANDING, MEDICATING, AND COOKING WITH CANNABIS
Part cookbook, part informational guidebook, The Medical Marijuana Dispensary takes readers through the history of the cannabis plant before diving into recipes for edibles and concentrates as well as information on medical marijuana applications and treatments. I would recommend this book if you’re a new patient overwhelmed by the different consumption methods and what does what, especially if you’d like to learn how to cook your own edibles.
THE CANNABIS SPA AT HOME: HOW TO MAKE MARIJUANA-INFUSED LOTIONS, MASSAGE OILS, OINTMENTS, BATH SALTS, SPA NOSH, AND MORE
Cannabis has been used in health and skin care practices for thousands of years, so if you enjoy cooking cannabis edibles, why not take the next step and make some skin potions? The Cannabis Spa At Home teaches you all about how to make your own cannabis lotions, balms, salves, poultices, and scrubs, as well as how to use each product, what to use it for, and how to properly store your goods.
THE CANNABIS MANIFESTO: A NEW PARADIGM FOR WELLNESS
Written by the owner of the world’s largest medical cannabis dispensary, The Cannabis Manifesto explores everything from basic questions about the plant to how prohibition has warped our society and what’s in store for the future of cannabis.
HEALING WITH CANNABIS: THE EVOLUTION OF THE ENDOCANNABINOID SYSTEM
Healing With Cannabis takes a deep dive into the body’s endocannabinoid system, including how it helps fight certain illnesses and the impact cannabis has on its processes. It’s a detailed guide to medical marijuana, including the many studies and trials that have been conducted to better understand its benefits and the impact it could have on the future of public health.
BRAVE NEW WEED: ADVENTURES INTO THE UNCHARTED WORLD OF CANNABIS
In Brave New Weed, author Joe Dolce tells stories of his worldwide quest to better understand the relationship we have with cannabis and how it’s evolved over time. He touches on the social, medical, legal, and cultural ramifications of the marijuana plant with people from Amsterdam, Israel, Colorado, and California in hopes of figuring out how and why it became what it is today. It’s the kind of book pot smokers and activists will enjoy, but what sets it apart from others on this list is that your Wall Street Journal-reading Dad might actually like it, too.
WEED THE PEOPLE: THE FUTURE OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN AMERICA
Written by Leafly Deputy Editor Bruce Barcott, Weed The People steps into the future of marijuana legalization in the United States, exploring everything from the most trivial to the most complex issues that surround the topic. If you’ve ever wondered about social etiquette with weed (should I bring some to a Super Bowl party?) or zoning laws about opening a dispensary (can I set up shop next to a liquor store?) this book explores a bit of everything.
HUMBOLDT: LIFE ON AMERICA’S MARIJUANA FRONTIER
Known as the heartland of marijuana farming, Humboldt County’s economy has subsided mostly on a diet of cannabis cash for the last 40 years. Humboldt author Emily Brady spent a year living amongst the unique residents of Humboldt, where she takes a look at both the lifestyle of the people running the farms and how it’s all changing for them as marijuana goes mainstream.
HOW TO SUCCEED IN THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY: FOR PROFESSIONALS, CONTRACTORS, & ENTREPRENEURS
How to Succeed in the Cannabis Industry is a workbook for professionals looking to transfer their skills to the cannabis industry, whether you want to launch a casual side hustle or a full cannabis empire.
MARIJUANA BUSINESS: HOW TO OPEN AND SUCCESSFULLY RUN A MARIJUANA DISPENSARY AND GROW FACILITY
If you’ve nailed down the cultivation and product side of your marijuana business and need to focus on the business side of things, Marijuana Business by Jeff Grissler is a solid introductory resource. This book covers the financial and legal side of cannabiz, how to design your dispensary and grow facility, proper security measures, tips for hiring employees, and how to write a business plan.
HIGH ON DESIGN: THE NEW CANNABIS CULTURE
High On Design reflects on the aesthetic of cannabis culture over the years – not just the people and trends, but also a wider view into the world of legalization, crime, cannabis as medicine, and hemp use in our society.
POT CULTURE: THE A-Z GUIDE TO STONER LANGUAGE AND LIFE
I have a thing for coffee table books. By “a thing” I mean I buy them impulsively and leave them in decorative stacks all over my house so people can easily scan the titles and judge my personal interests. Pot Culture is basically a coffee table encyclopedia for all the questions you have about weed culture, etiquette, gadgets, and slang, plus a few contributions from famous pot lovers like Melissa Etheridge and Adam Levine. It also makes a great piece of home decor that will disappoint your parents (unless they’re cool).