Weed: A New Zealand Story

by James Borrowdale

Pot, Mary Jane, dope, skunk, grass, hash, green, hooch, herb, ganja, reefer. New Zealand loves weed.

It's the most popular illegal drug in our country and third most popular drug overall, behind alcohol and tobacco, yet it also represents a troubled relationship.

In Weed, award-winning journalist James Borrowdale dives in deep to understand that relationship, meeting a fascinating cross-section of New Zealand along the way—a nineteenth-century nun who allegedly grew pot, a bystander to the Mr Asia syndicate, a convicted heroin dealer turned criminologist, people both using and offering the drug for medicinal relief, politicians and law-makers old and new.

What's revealed is an engrossing, heady and sometimes surprising account of New Zealand and weed.

Fusing insightful, personal stories with analysis and historical research, Weed lays out the facts as they are, about an issue that can no longer be ignored.

271 pages, Paperback

First published July 2, 2020

Reviews

[Hugo Lester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wowee this is good stuff. Great mix of history and modern day knowledge all surrounding cannabis. You seem to always enjoy a book on a topic you're interested in. Thanks James. 5 stars

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

topical (a bit late but also never too late) and informative

[Robbo · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit of a mixed bag this one. Some interesting points, however I heard an interview on Radio NZ about this book & it was touted as being a good book to read pre-Cannabis referendum but it seemed to be just a general book about Cannabis. There also seemed to be some pre-knowledge required as the book just jumped right into the story about Suzanne Aubert who was a nun who apparently grew Cannabis in NZ before it was illegal. However I'd never heard of her & the book seemed to assume some prior knowledge.
The book had some interesting stories, and some info about updated legislation which was interesting too.

[Ned Bartlett · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the first few pages it was clear to me that the author has and had a similar relationship with pot as I did, which makes this all the more relatable. So interesting to read about how unique Aotearoa’s relationship is with cannabis, particularly for Māori. I’m glad that this would not have swayed my vote in the current referendum. ✅

[Mike Marsbergen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-written, presenting a summary of what led to weed in New Zealand and how international interests led to it being made illegal, and makes a case for why it should be legal once more. I appreciated the historic information and would have enjoyed more in that vein.