Brave New Weed - by Joe Dolce (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

The former editor-in-chief of Details and Star adventures into the fascinating "brave new world" of cannabis, tracing its history and possible future as he investigates the social, medical, legal, and cultural ramifications of this surprisingly versatile plant.

Pot. Weed. Grass. Mary Jane. We all think we know what cannabis is and what we use it for. But do we? Our collective understanding of this surprising plant has been muddled by politics and morality; what we think we know isn't the real story.

A war on cannabis has been waged in the United States since the early years of the twentieth century, yet in the past decade, society has undergone a massive shift in perspective that has allowed us to reconsider our beliefs. In Brave New Weed, Joe Dolce travels the globe to "tear down the cannabis closet" and de-mystify this new frontier, seeking answers to the questions we didn't know we should ask.

Dolce heads to a host of places, including Amsterdam, Israel, California, and Colorado, where he skillfully unfolds the odd, shocking, and wildly funny history of this complex plant. From the outlandish stories of murder trials where defendants claimed "insanity due to marijuana consumption" to the groundbreaking success stories about the plant's impressive medicinal benefits, Dolce paints a fresh and much-needed portrait of cannabis, our changing attitudes toward it, and the brave new direction science and cultural acceptance are leading us.

Enlightening, entertaining, and thought-provoking, Brave New Weed is a compelling read that will surprise and educate proponents on both sides of the cannabis debate.

From the Back Cover

Since the 1930s, the United States has been waging a war on cannabis, using politics and propaganda to muddle our collective perception of this incredible plant. Yet in the past decade, our perspectives toward this complex herb have shifted, opening the door for a new understanding of weed.

Enter Joe Dolce, who journeys across the globe in a quest to understand the clouded past and bright future of weed. His travels take him on a tour of gardens and grow rooms, doctors' offices and dispensaries, and hospitals and homemade hash-making labs, as he explores the groundbreaking developments sparked by cultural acceptance. Along the way, he meets world-class researchers, entrepreneurs, historians, and cultural avatars who help him paint a clear-eyed portrait of the power of weed. In dispatches from Amsterdam, Israel, California, Colorado, and more, Dolce skillfully unfolds the odd history, emerging science, and massive economic potential behind this miraculous plant.

Brave New Weed offers a fresh take on the new world of cannabis and all the promise that this much-maligned plant holds. Enlightening, entertaining, and thought-provoking, Brave New Weed will surprise and educate advocates on both sides of the cannabis debate.

Review Quotes

"Brave New Weed, a loving rethink of all things marijuana, is likely to be a trusted hitchhiker's guide to this new universe." - New York Times Book Review
"Part travelogue, part cultural inquiry, part state-of-the-art scientific and medical survey, Joe Dolce's engaging and entertaining book provides an image makeover for cannabis that's long overdue." - Dr. Julie Holland, author of Moody Bitches and editor of The Pot Book
"No matter where you fall on the cannabis debate, this book will surprise you, intrigue you, and make you think. Brave New Weed provides a fresh perspective and demonstrates just how little we know about this ubiquitous, multifaceted, and ancient plant." - Dr. Andrew Weil, author of Mind Over Meds: How to Protect Yourself from Overmedication by Knowing When Drugs Are Necessary and When Alternatives May Be Better
"A fresh, clear-eyed, and lucidly reported travel guide to the rapidly expanding American subcontinent of medical and not-so-medical marijuana. Gone are the smoke-filled dorm rooms of yesteryear. In their place, bright dispensaries with 'budtenders' and 'cannabists, ' and connoisseurs microdosing on the latest batch of 'Bio-Diesel' or 'Super Lemon Haze.' Dolce is our de Tocqueville for Weed 2.0." - Brad Gooch, author of Smash Cut
"The ultimate 'Just Say Yes!' book. I got a contact high from reading it." - John Waters
"A superb book, Brave New Weed delivers a sharp, funny, incredibly interesting assessment of modern cannabis. A terrific writer, Dolce examines the scientists and the quacks, the heroes and the hucksters, the cops and the crooks converging in the great game of marijuana." - Michael Backes, author of Cannabis Pharmacy, The Practical Guide to Medical Marijuana
""Dolce explores cannabis' evolving place in mainstream culture...He takes the reader on a combination anthropological field trip/travelogue from the tourist destinations...to the current ground zero of marijuana." - San Francisco Chronicle
"A fresh, clear-eyed, and lucidly reported travel guide to the rapidly expanding American subcontinent of medical and not-so-medical marijuana. Dolce is our de Tocqueville for Weed 2.0." - Brad Gooch, author of Smash Cut
"One of the most fascinating accounts of the state of marijuana. A charming, honest look into pot's past--and what that says about its future." - Rolling Stone
"Fresh, engaging, and thoughtful...The finely-tuned prose is infused with a marvelous sense of curiosity and in-depth journalism. Dolce won me over immediately and held my attention from one page to the next, following him around the world as he explored the past, present and future of cannabis...An engaging, worthwhile read no matter what side of the cannabis argument you happen to be on." - Green Flower
"Dolce weaves a fascinating tale of the twisted history--and even more twisted pretzel logic--behind marijuana prohibition...Equal parts travelogue, existential discovery and historical exegesis...A well-spun narrative and a damn fun, breezy read about the ubiquitous weed...Dolce writes with clarity and expertise about the plant and its utility to mankind." - The Fresh Toast
"Best book on marijuana I've read in forever! Brave New Weed is a must read...his coverage of all the research on the endocannabinoid system that's been done in Israel (weed sci capital of the world) alone is amazing." - Steven Kotler
"Brave New Weed is a delightful, even joyous, book, filled with fascinating information about the expanding world of new strains, higher strengths, and tasty means of ingestion. Still, it left me feeling regretful about all the years and lives wasted by prohibition-and all the people in pain who remain without help because of archaic laws. Dolce has given us a major brief in the fight for legalization." - Barbara Ehrenreich, author of Nickel & Dime and Bait & Switch
"I've always avoided cannabis--watch enough 'dance moves' at your rock icon dad's concerts and you'd avoid the stuff, too. But Joe Dolce has opened my mind to the heart and horticulture of the herb in his pot page-turner. Pellucid science and story. I now want to heal from and exploit it in every way. HIGH-ly recommended." - Moon Zappa, actor and author of America the Beautiful
"A thoroughly enjoyable and highly informative romp through the politics, science, industry and culture of cannabis." - Ethan Nadelmann, Executive Director, Drug Policy Alliance
"An outstanding book." - Dr. Raphael Mechoulam, award-winning Professor of Medicinal Chemistry and Natural Products, Hebrew University, and the grandfather of cannabis research
"Employing aspects of travel narrative, pop history, journalism, and personal diary, Dolce is a genial and engaging narrator with a knack for breaking down complex science and making it easily digestible for laypeople. Brave New Weed will prove popular with cannabis enthusiasts, and will surprise and entertain the general reader." - Publishers Weekly
"An expansively researched book that finds the author trekking from Amsterdam to Israel to Colorado to craft an up-to-the-minute portrait of the past and future of cannabis." - Stranger