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Humboldt: Life on America's Marijuana Frontier by Brady, Emily (June 18, 2013) Hardcover
In the vein of Susan Orlean's The Orchid Thief and Deborah Feldman's Unorthodox, journalist Emily Brady journeys into a secretive subculture--one that marijuana built. Life on America's Marijuana FrontierSay the words "Humboldt County" to a stranger and you might receive a knowing grin. The name is infamous, and yet the place, and its inhabitants, have been nearly impenetrable. Until now.Humboldt is a narrative exploration of an insular community in Northern California, which for nearly 40 years has existed primarily on the cultivation and sale of marijuana. It's a place where business is done with thick wads of cash and savings are buried in the backyard. In Humboldt County, marijuana supports everything from fire departments to schools, but it comes with a heavy price. As legalization looms, the community stands at a crossroads and its inhabitants are deeply divided on the issue--some want to claim their rightful heritage as master growers and have their livelihood legitimized, others want to continue reaping the inflated profits of the black market. Emily Brady spent a year living with the highly secretive residents of Humboldt County, and her cast of eccentric, intimately drawn characters take us into a fascinating, alternate universe. It's the story of a small town that became dependent on a forbidden plant, and of how everything is changing as marijuana goes mainstream.
Unknown Binding
First published June 18, 2013
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About the author
Emily Brady
2 books17 followersEmily Brady is the author of "Humboldt: Life on America's Marijuana Frontier." A graduate of San Francisco State University and Columbia’s Graduate School of Journalism, she began her career at an English-language newspaper in Caracas, Venezuela. Her writing has also appeared in the New York Times, Village Voice, Time, and Smithsonian, among others.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
August 26, 2021
Up until I started this book I wasn’t even aware that the leaf isn’t the part of the plant that people smoke so I am maybe not the right person to trust when it comes to my opinion of Humboldt. I am truly an ....
I’m also someone who digs tales of living off the grid and criminal lifestyles and the drug trade and ocassionally vigilante justice. And mainly I’m someone who binged Murder Mountain and wanted to know more about the Emerald Triangle. When I say I wanted more let me be clear that I wanted more backstories of the people who chose to reside there - not more statistics and the detailed history of the "Just Say No" and C.A.M.P. campaign and other snoozer mumbo jumbo. This book gave me exactly what I was looking for. Humboldt follows the storytelling format of other nonfiction books that have worked for me in the past like Nomadland and Evicted where you become invested in the people while learning of how things came to be. While some will consider this dated since it takes place before legalization, the "before" story is exactly what I was interested in. The "after" story is sure to be a page turner as well. We'll see how long we have to wait to find out what changes happen to this region and those who reside there with the ever-changing climate surrounding the marijuana industry.
I’m also someone who digs tales of living off the grid and criminal lifestyles and the drug trade and ocassionally vigilante justice. And mainly I’m someone who binged Murder Mountain and wanted to know more about the Emerald Triangle. When I say I wanted more let me be clear that I wanted more backstories of the people who chose to reside there - not more statistics and the detailed history of the "Just Say No" and C.A.M.P. campaign and other snoozer mumbo jumbo. This book gave me exactly what I was looking for. Humboldt follows the storytelling format of other nonfiction books that have worked for me in the past like Nomadland and Evicted where you become invested in the people while learning of how things came to be. While some will consider this dated since it takes place before legalization, the "before" story is exactly what I was interested in. The "after" story is sure to be a page turner as well. We'll see how long we have to wait to find out what changes happen to this region and those who reside there with the ever-changing climate surrounding the marijuana industry.
June 26, 2013
This was a solid three-star read, but it gets an extra star for being about a subject that is particularly close to my heart. As a Humboldt native who grew up relatively insulated from the county's ubiquitous illegal marijuana production, I became increasingly interested in the subject as I got older and realized what a huge role pot plays in the local economy. This book is an interesting glimpse into the lives of growers and normal citizens whose lives are tied to the local drug trade. I grew up in Northern Humboldt and haven't spent a lot of time in SoHum, so my familiarity with most of the settings in this book was superficial. Still, it was wonderful to read Brady's descriptions of the redwoods and the natural landscapes of the place I call home. While I can't speak to the accuracy of her portrayal of the lives of growers, she certainly nailed it in her descriptions of the Humboldt vibe.
I am about to move back to Humboldt with my girlfriend and begin my adult life there, so I am very interested in how the eventual legalization of weed will affect the local economy. I support legalization, but I don't want many of the beautiful little towns in the area to disappear if weed suddenly plummets in price. I wouldn't mind, however, the dissolution of the wall of secrecy and danger that lingers behind the redwood curtain. Even if it comes with a temporary or even permanent economic price, I still think we need to legalize weed and bring its production, distribution, and consumption out of the shadows.
I usually don't have such a personal stake in books, and I found it hard to go through this narrative in an objective way. It really broke my heart to read about all the violence that has occurred over the years because of marijuana, much of which I'd never heard about. After reading this, I am much more grateful that I didn't grow up with the marijuana trade being a big part of my life.
I know the book is focused on the history of weed in Humboldt, but I wouldn't want readers to think that's all there is to this wonderful part of California. It's a great place to live and visit, with good, hardworking people, including many law-abiding farmers who raise delicious, organic produce and livestock. Humboldt possesses kind of breathtaking beauty that people travel across the world to see. It is a special place for lots of reasons, and the primo weed is just one item on a long list of unique, wacky things that give the county its distinct character. Even though I believe marijuana should and will eventually be legalized in California, I hope Humboldt residents find ways to peacefully and creatively keep their communities alive. It will require a lot of effort and flexibility, but there is much worth preserving.
I am about to move back to Humboldt with my girlfriend and begin my adult life there, so I am very interested in how the eventual legalization of weed will affect the local economy. I support legalization, but I don't want many of the beautiful little towns in the area to disappear if weed suddenly plummets in price. I wouldn't mind, however, the dissolution of the wall of secrecy and danger that lingers behind the redwood curtain. Even if it comes with a temporary or even permanent economic price, I still think we need to legalize weed and bring its production, distribution, and consumption out of the shadows.
I usually don't have such a personal stake in books, and I found it hard to go through this narrative in an objective way. It really broke my heart to read about all the violence that has occurred over the years because of marijuana, much of which I'd never heard about. After reading this, I am much more grateful that I didn't grow up with the marijuana trade being a big part of my life.
I know the book is focused on the history of weed in Humboldt, but I wouldn't want readers to think that's all there is to this wonderful part of California. It's a great place to live and visit, with good, hardworking people, including many law-abiding farmers who raise delicious, organic produce and livestock. Humboldt possesses kind of breathtaking beauty that people travel across the world to see. It is a special place for lots of reasons, and the primo weed is just one item on a long list of unique, wacky things that give the county its distinct character. Even though I believe marijuana should and will eventually be legalized in California, I hope Humboldt residents find ways to peacefully and creatively keep their communities alive. It will require a lot of effort and flexibility, but there is much worth preserving.
March 10, 2014
Northern California has always been a big and mysterious piece of the country to me. Loggers, fishermen, students, shop owners all wrestling something out of this beautiful country. It is surprisingly rugged and remote much more so then Oregon Coast where I have lived in the past. I was down there recently and recalled all of the information that had been subconsciously been entering my mind over the years about marijuana and pulled off the main road to drive through Garberville. It did not take long to drive through and out but I mentioned to my wife surely someone has written about this community. We stayed that night in Fort Bragg and got up the next morning to explore Mendocino and lo and behold this book was sitting in the local book store. This book lets you look beyond what you see and explains why you cannot see it. There is nothing unseemly or outrageous here but just a story about people living a beautiful a rugged part of the country that use to depend on logging and fishing. It follows the lives of four people who live in this country. Rural America is beautiful but hard to live in because of employment. These people are pioneers.
As a side note I would like to thank the owners of the shops in these small towns including the book store where I bought this book. I browsed for about 30 minutes. I could have bought this home on Amazon for $20.34 but I paid $27.00 for it here. The marginal cost of $6.66 is the price of a coffee and Danish from a neighboring coffee shop. Why are we willing to spend money on a coffee and Danish and deprive a book store owner of the right to compensation for exposing me to a book like this? Moral of the story support the book stores you browse. Buy something so they will be there in the future to offer a respite and educational experience for us all.
As a side note I would like to thank the owners of the shops in these small towns including the book store where I bought this book. I browsed for about 30 minutes. I could have bought this home on Amazon for $20.34 but I paid $27.00 for it here. The marginal cost of $6.66 is the price of a coffee and Danish from a neighboring coffee shop. Why are we willing to spend money on a coffee and Danish and deprive a book store owner of the right to compensation for exposing me to a book like this? Moral of the story support the book stores you browse. Buy something so they will be there in the future to offer a respite and educational experience for us all.
October 19, 2020
I was initially interested because of my close proximity to the lifestyle of growing pot here, the book ended up being too tedious for my attention span. Every October we are inundated with the constant thick (and sickening) odor of ripening bud. Trimigrants are everywhere at this time the world of growing pot is a part of living in Northern California. What I did read was interesting but evidently bored me, nothing new for me. Perhaps for someone unfamiliar with the pot growing world, it would be more interesting. Oh well, onto other books!
September 21, 2013
Emily Brady's study of marijuana culture focuses on Humboldt County, part of California's Emerald Triangle where a great deal of pot has been grown in the past few decades. Most of the book involves the time period just prior to the first legalization push in Cali; her book illuminates the issue from several points of view, ranging from an old-school grower facing competition from the more high-yielding indoor farms, through a social worker and a police officer to a man who lives on the bleeding edge of Humboldt's underground economy. Brady shows why many pot farmers were opposed to legalization. It's an interesting look at the economics--and the human costs--of marijuana and the war on drugs.
August 25, 2024
3.5 stars
A really interesting look at the history of Humboldt (a subject I sought out after watching a documentary on Big Foot sightings of all things lol) while also following 4 community members in 2010 as the region stares down the barrel of legalization.
A really interesting look at the history of Humboldt (a subject I sought out after watching a documentary on Big Foot sightings of all things lol) while also following 4 community members in 2010 as the region stares down the barrel of legalization.
June 26, 2013
Beginning in the sixties a lot of people joined the ‘Back to the Landers’ in an effort to live closer to the earth and ‘be the change’ that they wished to see in the world. For many in Humboldt County, under the beauty and grandeur of the Redwoods in the wilds of Northern California, this meant growing marijuana for a living.
Through a narrative of investigative journalism, Emily Brady illustrates the people and struggles of this relatively unique area through they eyes of its residents. While she interviewed hundreds (“some days it felt like everyone”) she offers a glimpse into life in Humboldt from the perspective of four representative people. ’Mare’ the older hippy woman and one of the original residents who grows only a few plants to supplement her income. ’Crockett’ who is second generation but works for others, grows and sells as much marijuana as possible. ’Bob’ the local police officer who is trying to do his job in the most respectful way possible considering that he is living in a county where most people make their money through an illegal industry that may or may not gain legality in the near future. And Ms. Worldpeace, a girl who grew up in Humboldt, moved away, and realized that her childhood was very different from that of most other people she meets in Berkley.
Ms. Brady’s presentation seems to be a fairly honest representation of the lives of those living in Humboldt County and through their individual perspectives she captures a lot o the issues that are being raised about marijuana and the cannabis sales o both a national level and a (Humboldt) local level.
It as an interesting and quick read that will almost certainly shed light on a culture with which many are unfamiliar.
Through a narrative of investigative journalism, Emily Brady illustrates the people and struggles of this relatively unique area through they eyes of its residents. While she interviewed hundreds (“some days it felt like everyone”) she offers a glimpse into life in Humboldt from the perspective of four representative people. ’Mare’ the older hippy woman and one of the original residents who grows only a few plants to supplement her income. ’Crockett’ who is second generation but works for others, grows and sells as much marijuana as possible. ’Bob’ the local police officer who is trying to do his job in the most respectful way possible considering that he is living in a county where most people make their money through an illegal industry that may or may not gain legality in the near future. And Ms. Worldpeace, a girl who grew up in Humboldt, moved away, and realized that her childhood was very different from that of most other people she meets in Berkley.
Ms. Brady’s presentation seems to be a fairly honest representation of the lives of those living in Humboldt County and through their individual perspectives she captures a lot o the issues that are being raised about marijuana and the cannabis sales o both a national level and a (Humboldt) local level.
It as an interesting and quick read that will almost certainly shed light on a culture with which many are unfamiliar.
March 9, 2020
How some 1970s back-to-the-landers accidentally founded a marijuana empire in the redwoods: "Humboldt: Life on America's Marijuana Frontier" by Emily Brady.
A lot of the early growers (late 60s-70s-80s) were back-to-landers, at first just growing for their own personal use. But they quickly found that profits on a relatively small number of plants paid a lot better than normal farm and timber crops, and more than jobs in town, too -- sometimes enough to subsidize their whole project/lifestyle. And the rest is history ...
Brady does a good job covering the trade in Humboldt Co (as of its pub date 2013) from all angles, and from all types of growers, from the ultra-idealist to the aggressively greedy gun-toting outlaw to the respectability-seeking legalized grower -- and how those types intersect with the pre-1970 local square substrate of logging, farming, ranching and small-town mayberryism.
Another common type of marijuana producer, as covered in the book, isn't any of these "pure" forms of dedicated growing, but rather a large number of mid-size, semi-pro, and only semi-successful growers for whom marijuana income arguably enables them to be a bit personally dysfunctional and unemployable, with some soberingly sad outcomes for their Gen X and Millennial kids.
A lot of the early growers (late 60s-70s-80s) were back-to-landers, at first just growing for their own personal use. But they quickly found that profits on a relatively small number of plants paid a lot better than normal farm and timber crops, and more than jobs in town, too -- sometimes enough to subsidize their whole project/lifestyle. And the rest is history ...
Brady does a good job covering the trade in Humboldt Co (as of its pub date 2013) from all angles, and from all types of growers, from the ultra-idealist to the aggressively greedy gun-toting outlaw to the respectability-seeking legalized grower -- and how those types intersect with the pre-1970 local square substrate of logging, farming, ranching and small-town mayberryism.
Another common type of marijuana producer, as covered in the book, isn't any of these "pure" forms of dedicated growing, but rather a large number of mid-size, semi-pro, and only semi-successful growers for whom marijuana income arguably enables them to be a bit personally dysfunctional and unemployable, with some soberingly sad outcomes for their Gen X and Millennial kids.
March 4, 2014
Humboldt: Life on America's Marijuana Frontier by Emily Brady (Grand Central Publishing 2013) (338.17379) is an interesting tale about the state of present-day cannabis farming in Northern California to provide a supply of marijuana for the medical marijuana market. I have no way to judge the accuracy of her information, and it's not really important anyway. When this book was published (in 2013), the need for a steady stream of cannabis to supply the California medical marijuana trade truly made California the "marijuana frontier." In just a few short months, this frontier has moved on! The cannabis frontier has moved east to Colorado and north to Washington where growers are racing to supply enough marijuana to meet the market demands of not just the medical marijuana trade but, in addition, the recreational trade as well! When the average disinterested citizen becomes aware of the mountains of brand new tax revenue pouring into Colorado and Washington from the cannabis market, the drug war will be over, and the tokers will have won. My rating: 7/10, finished 3/4/14.
September 8, 2013
This is a very readable book about the cannabis industry in Humboldt County, CA, mostly told through the lives of four differently involved people: Mara, an aging hippie, part of those who "started it all" with the back to land movement of the '70s; Bob, a Sheriffs officer, who just spins his wheels trying to enforce an the un-enforceable law against the growing; Crockett, a cog in the commercial growing industry; Emma, who "escaped" the cycle of death and arrest among children of growers through education and who now wants to return to SoHum to help the youth. Having just been to Humboldt County, I found this book elucidating and was able to visualize the locales described therein. I had no idea that this industry was so big (70% of all marijuana used in the US is from Humboldt). The growers fear and voted against legalization as the prices would drop and would actually be an impact on the economy of the region. I highly recommend this book for anybody interested in California history and economy and anybody interested in where marijuana comes from.
September 5, 2016
Having lived this life I was intrigued. It's fairly accurate, it was indeed a tromp down memory lane. My only fault with it is that it was so dry, I've read more exciting newspaper articles. It was choppy and lacked any continuity.
February 6, 2013
A really fascinating look at a community on the brink of dynamic change. Reads like fiction, but with all the interesting details only nonfiction can provide. A quick and thought-provoking read!
April 2, 2013
A very engaging read that draws you in immediately with a colorful cast of characters... but it's all strictly nonfiction! Strongly recommended, for advocates, opponents, and everyone in between.
July 25, 2013
This is a fun and light read yet an excellent account of Humboldt's marijuana culture told through the life stories of four characters. I highly recommend it.
March 2, 2024
Up until I watched a 2008 film titled "Humboldt County" a few weeks ago, I had no idea about the "marijuana capital" of America with it's counterculture roots deeply embedded in the "back-to-the-land-movement". The film was an eye opener for me and really got me intrigued about the whole place. This interest and fascination led me to reading this well written book by Emily Brady.
Whatever a person's view on cannabis and it's legalization are, this book really serves as an important piece of history highlighting the struggles, risks, and turmoils faced by the cannabis farmers and traders, and how the federally illegal business become the backbone of the county's economy. The author does a phenomenal job encompassing the entire Humboldt history, all the way from the humble beginnings of "back-to-the-land-movement" and the pioneer settlers in Southern Humboldt to the current money driven cannabis farmers who are in the game just for the money. This stark contrast in mindset and the evolution of laws regarding this plant has been well captured by the author.
By interviewing and dividing chapters based on certain people, the author was able to show the readers how each generation in Humboldt county had significantly different views about the crop, its purpose, and perhaps it's legality.
Mare, belonging to the pioneer settlers in the county, saw the plant as a divine crop. She grew just enough to support herself and never viewed the plant as a cash crop that would turn her into a millionaire. She still believed in its healing powers, growing them outdoors and tending to them like a child. While majority of the county moved towards commercialization and large scale indoor cultivation, even after all the decades in Humboldt, she still remained rooted to her core beliefs.
This is in stark contrast to Crockett, who was in the game just for the money. He represented the new wave of cultivators who came into the county just for making money. To him, the plant served as a way to get rich quickly. By using large scale hydroponics and lights almost as bright as the sun, he was working almost 24 hours a day in his industrial size indoor "pot factory". Not only did the indoor plants yield more money, it was harvested earlier by using artificial lightning and other techniques. It is evident that unlike Mare, he had no emotional connection to the plant or it's humble beginnings whatsoever. Since he made more money in the black market, it was people like him that strictly opposed the legalization of cannabis, as it incidentally would drive down the prices and in turn lesser profit for him and others. It was people like him that proudly displayed the bumper sticker : "Save Humboldt County. Keep Pot Illegal."
Then there are stories about law enforcement officers like Bob who are operating in a grey area. Even though at the time the book was written, cannabis was legal only for medical use in California, people were abusing this law by growing large scale cultivation instead of 2 or 3 plants with the permit. People like Bob had to sometimes turn a blind eye to this and were often frustrated by this grey area. But even with all that, he tried his best to enforce the law with priority to the safety and well being of the citizens.
These are just a few examples of how the book greatly explores the different facets and perspectives about cannabis and its effect on the county and its economy. With this book being released in 2013, when recreational cannabis was still illegal in the state of California to today in 2024 where almost half of the states in America has legalized recreational cannabis, a lot has changed. Many of the struggles people in Humboldt faced back then when the plant was illegal are almost nonexistent now. And soon enough one day when cannabis is federally legal, these struggles would be unheard of, much like how things fare now in the alcohol industry when compared to the probation era.
So this book serves as an important piece of history and a reminder of all the effects this plant had on a particular place, its people and its economy while it was still federally illegal. Not only are the lives of people in this book described in great detail, the author was able to provide the reader with different perspectives and thoughts about this plant.
-Rithin.
https://huesanddewspoetry.blogspot.co...
Whatever a person's view on cannabis and it's legalization are, this book really serves as an important piece of history highlighting the struggles, risks, and turmoils faced by the cannabis farmers and traders, and how the federally illegal business become the backbone of the county's economy. The author does a phenomenal job encompassing the entire Humboldt history, all the way from the humble beginnings of "back-to-the-land-movement" and the pioneer settlers in Southern Humboldt to the current money driven cannabis farmers who are in the game just for the money. This stark contrast in mindset and the evolution of laws regarding this plant has been well captured by the author.
By interviewing and dividing chapters based on certain people, the author was able to show the readers how each generation in Humboldt county had significantly different views about the crop, its purpose, and perhaps it's legality.
Mare, belonging to the pioneer settlers in the county, saw the plant as a divine crop. She grew just enough to support herself and never viewed the plant as a cash crop that would turn her into a millionaire. She still believed in its healing powers, growing them outdoors and tending to them like a child. While majority of the county moved towards commercialization and large scale indoor cultivation, even after all the decades in Humboldt, she still remained rooted to her core beliefs.
This is in stark contrast to Crockett, who was in the game just for the money. He represented the new wave of cultivators who came into the county just for making money. To him, the plant served as a way to get rich quickly. By using large scale hydroponics and lights almost as bright as the sun, he was working almost 24 hours a day in his industrial size indoor "pot factory". Not only did the indoor plants yield more money, it was harvested earlier by using artificial lightning and other techniques. It is evident that unlike Mare, he had no emotional connection to the plant or it's humble beginnings whatsoever. Since he made more money in the black market, it was people like him that strictly opposed the legalization of cannabis, as it incidentally would drive down the prices and in turn lesser profit for him and others. It was people like him that proudly displayed the bumper sticker : "Save Humboldt County. Keep Pot Illegal."
Then there are stories about law enforcement officers like Bob who are operating in a grey area. Even though at the time the book was written, cannabis was legal only for medical use in California, people were abusing this law by growing large scale cultivation instead of 2 or 3 plants with the permit. People like Bob had to sometimes turn a blind eye to this and were often frustrated by this grey area. But even with all that, he tried his best to enforce the law with priority to the safety and well being of the citizens.
These are just a few examples of how the book greatly explores the different facets and perspectives about cannabis and its effect on the county and its economy. With this book being released in 2013, when recreational cannabis was still illegal in the state of California to today in 2024 where almost half of the states in America has legalized recreational cannabis, a lot has changed. Many of the struggles people in Humboldt faced back then when the plant was illegal are almost nonexistent now. And soon enough one day when cannabis is federally legal, these struggles would be unheard of, much like how things fare now in the alcohol industry when compared to the probation era.
So this book serves as an important piece of history and a reminder of all the effects this plant had on a particular place, its people and its economy while it was still federally illegal. Not only are the lives of people in this book described in great detail, the author was able to provide the reader with different perspectives and thoughts about this plant.
-Rithin.
https://huesanddewspoetry.blogspot.co...
December 23, 2021
I find a lot of books interesting, but I actually enjoyed this book about my town and neighbors. The author spent a year in SoHum, but I was probably the only person who didn't meet the author.
A book like this is usually vulnerable to subjects rejecting how they are portrayed, and since this book is ten years old, I've forgotten if the author pissed off anyone back then. So I won't address those possible weaknesses except to mention that one of the characters, EZ Out, is someone I see almost every day sleeping out on the Garberville Town Square or across the street from my apartment, hanging out in front of the Presbyterian church.
The book primarily follows four people: an OG 1970s back-to-the-land grower, the daughter of growers (EZ Out's daughter) who turned away from the bud-iness, a second generation grower who stayed with the business, and a sheriff. Brady tells their stories well, and her story-telling skills are engaging, moving the story along briskly.
A particularly important focus of the book is the impact on the kids of growing up in outlaw culture. The impact has been pretty fucked up. There are very few economic alternatives to growing for the young people. So bravo to EZ Out's daughter Emma for going on to get a degree at UC Berkeley. EZ Out, who used to be really popular until his 24-beer-per-day lifestyle got out of control. along with some meth perhaps, is now an even bigger asshole in my opinion for abandoning his kids.
Last night, in the rain, he slept alongside the wall of the town restroom, which I open and close every day. He had a whole rap for me of how he was using waxed cardboard to sleep on and other things to keep dry. I warned him of the rain. By morning, when I showed up today, he was gone, leaving his cardboard, spilled chocolate milk and bags of some kind of food and a bunch of clothing sprawled all over the place. There was even a six-inch long WORM among his "bedding."
Brady makes it clear, there wasn't much romance to the SoHum outlaw growing scene by 2010. Just a bunch of burned-out spoiled yuppies whining about legalization–and fiercely fighting it–not giving a damn about the blacks and Latinos who were being sent to jail, wrecking families, because of the prohibition/govt. subsidy of their $3-4,000/pound incomes.
Brady exposes the negative ecological impacts of diesel dope, large-scale grows, and the climate impacts of indoor growing (one medical grade grow light uses 500 times the electricity of a normal house light). Bet you didn't know that 2% of the nation's carbon dioxide emissions come from indoor pot grows! Holy shit!
If you are interested in stories about hippie lifestyles and the counterculture of the 1960s and what happened to the back-to-the-landers, pick up this book. Brady deserves an audience.
A book like this is usually vulnerable to subjects rejecting how they are portrayed, and since this book is ten years old, I've forgotten if the author pissed off anyone back then. So I won't address those possible weaknesses except to mention that one of the characters, EZ Out, is someone I see almost every day sleeping out on the Garberville Town Square or across the street from my apartment, hanging out in front of the Presbyterian church.
The book primarily follows four people: an OG 1970s back-to-the-land grower, the daughter of growers (EZ Out's daughter) who turned away from the bud-iness, a second generation grower who stayed with the business, and a sheriff. Brady tells their stories well, and her story-telling skills are engaging, moving the story along briskly.
A particularly important focus of the book is the impact on the kids of growing up in outlaw culture. The impact has been pretty fucked up. There are very few economic alternatives to growing for the young people. So bravo to EZ Out's daughter Emma for going on to get a degree at UC Berkeley. EZ Out, who used to be really popular until his 24-beer-per-day lifestyle got out of control. along with some meth perhaps, is now an even bigger asshole in my opinion for abandoning his kids.
Last night, in the rain, he slept alongside the wall of the town restroom, which I open and close every day. He had a whole rap for me of how he was using waxed cardboard to sleep on and other things to keep dry. I warned him of the rain. By morning, when I showed up today, he was gone, leaving his cardboard, spilled chocolate milk and bags of some kind of food and a bunch of clothing sprawled all over the place. There was even a six-inch long WORM among his "bedding."
Brady makes it clear, there wasn't much romance to the SoHum outlaw growing scene by 2010. Just a bunch of burned-out spoiled yuppies whining about legalization–and fiercely fighting it–not giving a damn about the blacks and Latinos who were being sent to jail, wrecking families, because of the prohibition/govt. subsidy of their $3-4,000/pound incomes.
Brady exposes the negative ecological impacts of diesel dope, large-scale grows, and the climate impacts of indoor growing (one medical grade grow light uses 500 times the electricity of a normal house light). Bet you didn't know that 2% of the nation's carbon dioxide emissions come from indoor pot grows! Holy shit!
If you are interested in stories about hippie lifestyles and the counterculture of the 1960s and what happened to the back-to-the-landers, pick up this book. Brady deserves an audience.
November 20, 2025
As a Humboldt County, Cali/Emerald Triangle chick myself [several generations deep], I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is refreshingly accurate. I cannot express how much I appreciate Emily for even taking the time [a long time at that! Poor thing spent months here lol] to immerse herself in what what was going on at the time and giving folks here a voice. We often feel isolated from the rest of California, let alone the country. And even though today's marijuana and the industry that has been built is loved by the entire country, if not world, people just assume it popped out of nowhere and was just there. When really, people have been in the shadows [forced there] and silently been crafting the best marijuana and the best growing techniques, indoor, outdoor, organic, hydroponics, etc and breeding the first and most infamous strains in the world. And all mostly unrecognized and for that others have capitalized off of. Whether that being out of the country in more lenient countries like Amsterdam [yes, they deserve 0 recognition they get], or Spain, Canada and even in my own State because they have the money & investors in the big cities like SF, Oakland, Santa Barbara, and of course LA. Oh I'm looking at you too Denver. Anyways... Long rant. I wonder what Ms. Emily would say if she were to ever return, now that it's been a few years after legalization? It's undoubtedly gotten worse. The State, it's leadership, and our fellow Californians could not give 2 sh*ts.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 19, 2019
This is a topic that has been very close to my for basically my entire life and ive always found it incedibly fascinating that the history of this industry is so violent even though its products bring so much joy, but i guess that can be related to basically any big business. This is a very readable book about the cannabis industry in Humboldt County, CA, mostly told through the lives of four differently involved people: Mara, an aging hippie, part of those who "started it all" with the back to land movement of the '70s; Bob, a Sheriffs officer, who just spins his wheels trying to enforce an the un-enforceable law against the growing; Crockett, a cog in the commercial growing industry; Emma, who "escaped" the cycle of death and arrest among children of growers through education and who now wants to return to SoHum to help the youth in real education of the industry. This industry is so big that it produces close to 70% of all marijuana used in the US is from Humboldt. The growers fear and voted against legalization as the prices would drop and would actually be an impact on the economy of the region. I highly recommend this book for anybody interested in California history and economy and anybody interested in where marijuana comes from.
May 31, 2017
I had the pleasure of meeting Emily Brady a few months ago and knew instantly that this was a non-fiction writer whose book I had to read. I expected Humbolt to be smart and well-written. What I didn't expect was to be thoroughly captivated by these people and this place, so much so in fact that I'd devour the story over a weekend. Partial credit goes to the intriguing subject matter (having grown up in British Columbia, where the scent of pot is as ubiquitous as Lululemon leggings, even I had much to learn here), but far more credit goes to Brady's deft handling of it. This behind-the-livingroom-curtains look at one of America's most notorious and secretive communities reads more like a novel thanks to a cast of deeply sympathetic characters living under the threat of imminent loss. Their lives are built on stuff as strong as old growth redwoods and as fragile as a slip of paper that lets them grow medical marijuana. The possible legalization of pot and all the changes it will surely bring, many unforeseeable, hangs hazy and heavy over all of them. What will come of Mare, Emma, Bob and Crockett? Of this special place? It was hard to close the last pages and leave them there.
July 23, 2021
I picked this book up while visiting Humboldt County in 2021. While the book is a little dated (it was written before marijuana was legalized in California), I enjoyed learning about the history of Humboldt and what it used to be before marijuana was mainstream.
The author follows the stories of a handful of individuals who each represent a different aspect of the marijuana industry in Northern California back before weed was legal: an old hippie, a young businessman, a local who went away to college and a deputy sheriff.
It's easy to visit Humboldt nowadays and become enchanted by its natural beauty and quaint charm. But this book was a reminder that the weed industry wasn't always clean and polished up in this Northern California community. And it affected everything and everyone.
Anywhere humans live, there's money. And anywhere there's money, there's crime.
The author follows the stories of a handful of individuals who each represent a different aspect of the marijuana industry in Northern California back before weed was legal: an old hippie, a young businessman, a local who went away to college and a deputy sheriff.
It's easy to visit Humboldt nowadays and become enchanted by its natural beauty and quaint charm. But this book was a reminder that the weed industry wasn't always clean and polished up in this Northern California community. And it affected everything and everyone.
Anywhere humans live, there's money. And anywhere there's money, there's crime.
January 5, 2022
Would have given this a 3.5 stars. I bought this in Humboldt when visiting my brother. Love the area and as a person who does research in substance use, this was a natural pick for me. Tells the story of marijuana growth and culture that rose in Humboldt county through the stories of 4 people who lived there. The context was the transition to medical marijuana legalization and the perspectives of folks about full legalization at a time when it was going on the ballot. I found the personal stories interesting and it does give you a peak inside the community. Wishing there was more history and context, which it touches on, but doesn't go in depth about. But I was never bored and flew through this book quickly!
February 13, 2020
As a cannabis user and advocate for half my life, I devoured this book. I love that it flowed like a story, getting me invested in each of the four characters it focused on. I’ve always wanted to see Humboldt, and even after watching the Murder Mountain documentary, find the history of that part of the country to be fascinating and wonderful. I really liked Emily Brady’s writing style and enjoyed being transported beyond the ‘Redwood Curtain’.
May 9, 2024
A book I read from a library sale as a new Californian, before mailing it home to friends who told me stories about Humboldt prior to moving. The topic of the book is not one I often give much thought to or lend much of my curiosity to, and this book being eleven years old now it is a bit dated, but it is still relevant today. Just this past week, there is news of the plant being re-classified to a less potent drug schedule by the DEA. My favorite person to read about by far was Mare.
January 20, 2019
Wow. What an incredible insight into such a taboo subject. Brady has really captured the personal and human side to the marijuana trade. It tells like a sequence of separate stories that all intertwine to paint a delicate picture that leaves the reader with so many questions and an alternate view of this often negatively cast subject.
February 27, 2019
Very interesting
Humboldt told the story of the marijuana industry in an off the grid community. The book shares the perspective of a variety of Humboldt residents with different roles in the marijuana trade. This was book was informative, interesting and shared diverse perspectives from a variety of people living in the community relying on the black market marijuana growers.
Humboldt told the story of the marijuana industry in an off the grid community. The book shares the perspective of a variety of Humboldt residents with different roles in the marijuana trade. This was book was informative, interesting and shared diverse perspectives from a variety of people living in the community relying on the black market marijuana growers.
February 9, 2020
Really good read picked it up at the local library in Alaska. Follows life in humboldt county in the weed grey area process. Farmers deciding wether to go legal or continue the illegal grow. Really get the community into it. Recommend this.
December 31, 2020
Very well-written, engaging, interesting, well-researched and informative. This book answered a lot of questions and gave balanced perspectives on an often confusing topic. I learned from and appreciated this book.
June 26, 2017
An interesting look at the economic and social impact of marijuana growing and legalization in rural Northern California.
May 16, 2018
Interesting essay on the marijuana economy and culture present mostly in southern Humboldt County in California. Quick, interesting read. Very topical for today’s controversies.
November 27, 2019
Poorly written and riddled with errors. For better writing on the actual events, read archives of the North Coast Journal
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