In the weeds : demonization, legalization, and the evolution of U.S. marijuana policy /

Relying on an eclectic mix of scholarly and non--peer-reviewed sources, sociologists Clayton Mosher and Scott Akins (both, Washington State Univ.) provide a historical account of the demonization of cannabis and the evolution of cannabis policy reform in the US over the last 100 years. The authors begin by examining changing cannabis use patterns, demonstrating how the gradual mainstreaming of cannabis has played a significant role in shaping cannabis policy reform. A review of the social, political, and legal history of cannabis follows, with an emphasis on medical and scientific studies and their interpretation by various political administrations. They consider both the negative and positive effects of cannabis, but they are critical of attempts by government agencies and nongovernment organizations to abuse the science on cannabis to further its demonization. The authors conclude by examining various cannabis legalization paths in the US and other countries and by considering some key emerging controversies surrounding cannabis, for example, banking, taxation, advertising, corporatization, black markets, and the absence of people of color in legal markets. The authors' anachronistic use of the term marijuana is unfortunate as is their superficial treatment of the normalization literature. Nonetheless, this is a significant contribution to the literature on cannabis and cannabis policy. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readers. --Geraint B. Osborne, University of Alberta