A New Leaf: The End of Cannabis Prohibition

by Alyson Martin, Nushin Rashidian

In November 2012, voters in Colorado and Washington passed landmark measures to legalize the production and sale of cannabis for social use--a first not only in the United States but also the world. Medical cannabis is now legal in twenty states and Washington, D.C., and more than one million Americans have turned to it in place of conventional pharmaceuticals. Yet the federal government refuses to acknowledge these broader societal shifts and continues to raid and arrest 49.5 percent of all drug-related arrests involve the sale, manufacture, or possession of cannabis.

In the first book to explore the new landscape of cannabis in the United States, investigative journalists Alyson Martin and Nushin Rashidian present a deeply researched, insightful story of how recent developments tie into cannabis's complex history and thorny politics. Reporting from nearly every state with a medical cannabis law, Martin and Rashidian enliven their book with in-depth interviews with patients, growers, doctors, entrepreneurs, politicians, activists, and regulators. They whisk readers from the federal cannabis farm at the University of Mississippi to the headquarters of the ACLU to Oregon's "World Famous Cannabis Café." They present an expert analysis of how recent milestones toward legalization will affect the war on drugs both domestically and internationally. The result is an unprecedented and lucid account of how legalization is manifesting itself in the lives of millions.

A New Leaf offers an essential guide for anyone who wants to understand the far-ranging implications of this rapidly changing drug landscape.anewleafbook.com

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction, History

256 pages, Paperback

First published February 4, 2014

About the author

Alyson Martin is an award-winning journalist, an author, photographer, and editor. She focuses on investigative journalism, health reporting, and drug policy. Her work has been published by the New York Times, The Nation, The Post-Star, the Albany Times Union, the Ithaca Journal and the 2011 edition of the book Our Bodies, Ourselves. Martin is a graduate of the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. She is a lifelong Yankees fan.

Reviews

[Azure · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very current look at the role our government has played in the history of cannabis in America. It is so full of details regarding the laws, dates, events and people involved in prohibiting and legalizing it that it is a dry read; but that being said I learned a lot (especially in the medicinal branch of the laws and usage). It doesn't take very many pages to get the picture that this issue is all about politics and hardly about health or societal risk. Through the politics we have put much of our society at risk and wasted volumes of tax payer dollars. I am proud to live in a state that is willing to take on the status quo in both gay rights and marijuana through the voices of the voters and blaze the way for other states to follow. Why is it that the feds are so far back there in getting any of this right?

[Timothy Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great journalism (with an obvious but agreeable bias) that focuses on the history and current developments with regards to cannabis prohibition over the last century. My one complaint is that they spend less time than I'd prefer discussing the whys of prohibition and subsequent legalization, and focus more on the hows. I feel well educated with regard to which states have done what and how the federal government's stance towards state laws have changed, but I'm still curious to learn more about how prohibition began and why public opinion has changed so drastically in the last several decades.

[Daniel Rempert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an educated and comprehensive look of marijuana prohibition in the United States. I was impressed with the thorough research and well crafted scope of the authors. While they don't write from an impartial stance, they do a good job at relaying the facts while giving the reader a sense of hope for the turning tides on drug reform. Colorado and Washington have taken a Great Leap Forward (this one is different) and I actually got misty as the authors unfolded the events that led to the repeal of prohibition in these states. I learned a lot and I highly recommend.

[Steve Stanton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This breakthrough book details the poignant history of medical marijuana in USA and the beginning stages of a transformation to legal recreational use in many states. The authors make clear that the political farce of cannabis prohibition is fast drawing to a close, as over three-quarters of Americans now believe the cannabis plant has therapeutic value. After forty years and over a trillion wasted tax dollars, only 4% of Americans still support the infamous War on Drugs. Pass it on. :)

[Myrrah Grey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! I didn't know much about the topic but I have developed such a profound appreciation and a thirst for more knowledge after reading this book. I love law history as well as general history so this really pertains to my love of history. This is a good read and I suggest others to read this.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A well-researched account of more recent events. Preaching to the choir, but I did learn a few things new.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has a lot of information and TONS of sources. While I've been actively involved in ending cannabis prohibition for years, I still learned things in this book. The crazy winding road that ending prohibition has taken is even more crazy than I thought!
The only reason I have 4 instead of 5 is that the introduction of ppl in the book, could use a little work and at times more explanation of who they are.

[Tauhid Chappell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book by two journalists that look at the history of marijuana and how policy has shifted over time since it was banned in the U.S.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has shown how the government has had its war on marijuana, and how overtime certain states decided to allow the use of cannabis. Although, cannabis may seem like a drug to some people; this book explains how the plant is not only to become "high", but for a medical purpose. Athletes are known for smoking cannabis instead of taking any narcotics because they understand how addicting they can be. There's also a great history of how cannabis has been introduced to the world overtime, and how allowing cannabis to be a part of state funds would better the economy and create more jobs in the communities. They talk about how the States of California and Colorado have passed the propositions for marijuana, and they explain how much effort many of the cannabis growers had to go through to get these props passed. Overall I would highly recommend this book to anyone that finds the would of cannabis interesting.

[Patrick Egan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really excellent. The right amount of science, wonk, and narrative baked into a concise but thorough account of how we've gotten to where we are--and probably some indication of where we might be headed. Well done!