Cannabis is a complex plant with millennia of rich history across numerous cultures and civilizations.
In fact, there’s so much to know about cannabis that countless books have been written about it.
We’ve listed our eight favorite cannabis books below, which span topics like the plant’s therapeutic potential, cultural impacts, and history of the legalization movement.
If you want to learn more about cannabis and the many ways it has shaped our society, these books are a great place to start.
‘Cannabis Pharmacy: The Practical Guide to Medical Marijuana’ by Michael Backes
Blue Oak is a recreational dispensary with a medicinal mindset, so Cannabis Pharmacy is exactly the kind of book we’re drawn to.
It offers a trove of evidence-based information about cannabis’s potential to help manage symptoms associated with more than 50 conditions.
You’ll learn how cannabis interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS), how to dose and consume cannabis for its potential medical benefits, and so much more.
Whether you’re drawn to cannabis to help manage mental health conditions, sleep disruptions, or pain, you’ll find advice on how to do so alongside evidence that it may work.
‘Reefer Wellness: Understanding Cannabis Science, Culture, & Medicine’ by Dr. Riley Kirk
Another great book that explores cannabis’s therapeutic potential, Reefer Wellness simplifies complex topics with colorful illustrations and familiar language.
As with Cannabis Pharmacy, Reefer Wellness explains how cannabis may support a plethora of conditions and how to dose and consume it.
It differs from Cannabis Pharmacy, though, in its inclusion of tips for minimizing undesirable side effects.
When leveraging cannabis for holistic well-being, Reefer Wellness will likely prove an invaluable resource.
‘Higher: The Lore, Legends, and Legacy of Cannabis’ by Dan Michaels
Dive into the history of cannabis with Higher: The Lore, Legends, and Legacy of Cannabis, a book known for being packed with fun facts about the plant.
Dan Michaels wrote this book after extensive research and numerous interviews with figures from the cannabis community. He covers cannabis’s lineage, flavor, THC content, and effects.
You’ll also encounter the stories of the people who helped propel cannabis to its current status, and their mistakes along the way.
Whether you want to learn about the best cannabis cultivars, how consumption has evolved, or what makes cannabis so botanically unique, you’ll find it in Higher.
‘Cannabis Wars: The Incredible True Story of the Medical Cannabis Underground’ by Tom Wegner
When his father received a terminal cancer diagnosis, Tom Wegner explored medical cannabis to help his father manage pain.
The ins and outs of his journey inspired him to write Cannabis Wars, which won the 2022 Global Book Awards.
Cannabis Wars details all the red tape that the medical cannabis movement has faced in its growth.
It spotlights the doctors, researchers, and everyday people who pushed to legalize medical cannabis, as well as the special interest groups that still advocate for prohibition.
From cancer patients like Wegner’s father to those with PTSD, epilepsy, and other conditions, the voices centered in Cannabis Wars showcase the cannabis community’s diversity — and the plant’s variety of potential uses.
‘How to Smoke Pot (Properly): A Highbrow Guide to Getting High’ by David Bienenstock
Don’t let the name fool you: Consumption tips are only part of what former High Times editor and VICE cannabis columnist David Bienenstock covers in How to Smoke Pot (Properly).
As you read this book, you’ll explore topics such as the link between cannabis and creativity.
This book also claims that cannabis holds the ability to boost empathy and, for some, serve as a meaningful replacement for pharmaceuticals.
There are also “pro tips” from big names in the cannabis world. With How to Smoke Pot (Properly), you’ll get guidance from the people who know best.
‘Beyond Buds, Next Generation: Marijuana Concentrates and Cannabis Infusions’ by Ed Rosenthal and Greg Zeman
Ed Rosenthal has been among the most prominent advocates for cannabis legalization since the 1980s, long before the first legal dispensary launched.
Beyond Buds, his book with Greg Zeman, was initially published in 2014 with a strong focus on cannabis concentrates. It was reissued in 2018 with a plethora of additional subject matter.
Now, Beyond Buds covers vaporizers, the increasing prevalence of CBD in spa offerings, and how to transform cannabis trim into salves, a type of topical.
There are also new chapters on rosin and resin. Even as Beyond Buds has evolved, it remains the definitive guide to concentrates.
‘Cooking with Cannabis: Delicious Recipes for Edibles and Everyday Favorites’ by Laurie Wolf
Homemade edibles encompass so much more than just weed brownies. Prominent edibles advocate Laurie Wolf demonstrates this throughout Cooking with Cannabis.
This book is home to recipes that span breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert.
It’s also packed with tips on choosing cannabis strains, understanding minor cannabinoids, and how to store your infused creations.
Cooking with Cannabis is written with flexibility in mind, too. On days when you’re looking for regular recipes, just use the non-cannabis version of each recipe’s infusion ingredient.
‘Waiting to Inhale: Cannabis Legalization and the Fight for Racial Justice’ by Akwasi Owusu-Bempah and Tahira Rehmatullah
The failed War on Drugs, notorious for its targeting of Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities, resulted in an increase of 450,000 arrests between 1990 and 2002.
Among these arrests, 82% were related to cannabis, with 79% pertaining only to cannabis possession.
It is clear from the data alone that cannabis legalization is a racial justice issue. Waiting to Inhale, a 2023 book from MIT Press, takes exactly this angle and proposes solutions.
You’ll learn about the lives destroyed by the War on Drugs, the role that government forces played in this destruction, and how those affected have fought back.
You’ll also learn how we can start righting the wrongs. Solutions include expunging cannabis convictions and guaranteeing space in the legal cannabis market for Black, Brown, and Indigenous people.
A more equitable, inclusive cannabis community — and world — is possible. Waiting to Inhale shows us how we can get there.
Continue your cannabis education at Blue Oak
Reading is one of the best ways to learn about cannabis. Another excellent option is to seek out personalized educational resources at Blue Oak.
At our woman-owned, independent cannabis boutique, quality education is as paramount as premium cannabis products.
Plan a consultation for support from our experts. Ask us any questions you have — learning never stops, and we’re always here to guide you.
