The United States has experienced a dramatic shift in attitudes towards cannabis use from the 1970s, when only 12% of Americans said that they thought that cannabis should be legal, to today. What once had been a counterculture drug supplied for the black market by socially marginal figures like drug smugglers and hippies has become a big business, dominated by a few large corporations. Pot for Profit, traces the cultural, historical, political, and legal roots of these changing attitudes towards cannabis. The book also showcases interviews with dispensary owners, bud tenders, and other industry employees about their experience working in the legal cannabis industry, and cannabis reform activists working towards legalization. Mello argues that embracing the profit potential of this drug has been key to the success of cannabis reform, and that this approach has problematic economic and racial implications. The story of cannabis reform shows that neoliberalism may not be an absolute barrier to social change, but it does determine the terrain on which these debates must occur. When activists capitulate to these pressures, they may make some gains, but those gains come with strings attached. This only serves to reinforce the totalizing power of the neoliberal ethos on American life. The book concludes by meditating on what, if anything, can be done to move the cannabis legalization movement back onto a more progressive track.

Leading experts on the science, history, politics, medicine, and potential of America’s most popular recreational drug • With contributions by Andrew Weil, Michael Pollan, Lester Grinspoon, Allen St. Pierre (NORML), Tommy Chong, and others • Covers marijuana’s physiological and psychological effects, its medicinal uses, the complex politics of cannabis law, pot and parenting, its role in creativity, business, and spirituality, and much more Exploring the role of cannabis in medicine, politics, history, and society, The Pot Book offers a compendium of the most up-to-date information and scientific research on marijuana from leading experts, including Lester Grinspoon, M.D., Rick Doblin, Ph.D., Allen St. Pierre (NORML), and Raphael Mechoulam. Also included are interviews with Michael Pollan, Andrew Weil, M.D., and Tommy Chong as well as a pot dealer and a farmer who grows for the U.S. Government. Encompassing the broad spectrum of marijuana knowledge from stoner customs to scientific research, this book investigates the top ten myths of marijuana; its physiological and psychological effects; its risks; why joints are better than water pipes and other harm-reduction tips for users; how humanity and cannabis have co-evolved for millennia; the brain’s cannabis-based neurochemistry; the complex politics of cannabis law; its potential medicinal uses for cancer, AIDS, Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, and other illnesses; its role in creativity, business, and spirituality; and the complicated world of pot and parenting. As legalization becomes a reality, this book candidly offers necessary facts and authoritative opinions in a society full of marijuana myths, misconceptions, and stereotypes.

"Greg Campbell is just about the last person you'd suspect of growing pot in his basement. A few ill-fated experiences in college revealed he was a terrible stoner, and in the years since, he's not given the green stuff another thought. But his attitude changed when medical marijuana was legalized in his home state of Colorado in 2009. It set off a tsunami activity that was viewed by opposing camps as either Nirvana or the Apocalypse. Dispensaries popped up overnight, and as Greg watched the flurry, he thought: Why not me? POT OF GOLD chronicles Greg's venture into ganjapreneurealism. Along the way, he learn not only how to grow pot, but he also gained an invaluable education into the truth about marijuana's value as a medicine. Traveling from California's famed Humbolt County to the first-annual Medical Marijuana Education Expo to Oklahoma (where a man was sentenced to 93 years for growing marijuana to treat chronic arthritis), Greg unearths ignorance about pot's centuries-old therapeutic value (an ignorance the government is desperate to maintain) as well as his own personal connection to its medicinal value. "--Provided by publisher.

So you want to be a Cannabis millionaire? In this book, 50 industry insiders share what it takes to succeed in the weed business and generate High R.O.I. In the follow up to his best-selling The Entrepreneur's Guide to Cannabis, Cannabis Business Coach and award-winning Cannabis entrepreneur, Michael Zaytsev shares the strategies and tactics that transformed him from an idealistic 24-year-old with absolutely no knowledge of Cannabis-except how to consume it-into one of the Cannabis industry's most consistently innovative, influential, and effective leaders. The Cannabis Business Book features interviews and insights from 50 industry leading insiders, including: Founder and Owner of California's largest medical dispensary (Steve DeAngelo) Investors funding the biggest deals in Cannabis business (Emily Paxhia, Asher Troppe, Alain Bankier, Scott Greiper) Chief Mentor for the world's largest network of high-net-worth Cannabis investors in the world (Francis Priznar) Renowned Cannabis grow expert and Senior Cultivation Editor of High Times magazine (Danny Danko) Attorneys who helped craft the laws that legalized Cannabis in Colorado, Florida, and Massachusetts (Brian Vicente, Ben Pollara, Shanel Lindsay) Entrepreneurs in all facets of the industry, from edibles to software and everything in between Trailblazing pioneers in activism who paved the way for legal Cannabis business and many more! Readers can expect to learn: Why Cannabis business represents an unprecedented once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for wealth creation and social impact How to take advantage of that opportunity Whether or not the cannabis business is right for you (it's not for everyone...) How the Cannabis industry is unique from every other industry in the world The mindset, leadership principles, and best practices of highly successful Cannabis entrepreneurs How to raise money for your Cannabis business How to build a potent and supportive Cannabis network The most common mistakes Cannabis entrepreneurs make and how to avoid them and more! Michael Zaytsev, or Mike Z, is the Founder of High NY -one of the world's largest marijuana Meetup communities. He has produced Cannabis education and networking opportunities for thousands of people. He is also the Founder of The New York City Cannabis Film Festival, the Cannabis Media Lab, & the High Tech Hackathon. Michael Zaytsev's writing has been published in Entrepreneur, Forbes, International Business Times, & more. For more information or to contact Mike Z, visit www.MichaelZaytsev.com

Grow your own marijuana indoors with help from this comprehensive guide Even if you have no experience, growing marijuana at home is easy once you learn the basics. This step-by-step guide provides novice growers with simple instructions on how to set up an indoor growing space and nurture high-quality buds. Find advice for each stage of the process, from choosing the right space, equipment, and strains, to planting, caring for, and cultivating a thriving crop. In this guide to growing marijuana indoors, you'll find: An overview of the basics—Explore the anatomy and life cycle of the cannabis plant, the four fundamentals of growing marijuana, and common myths and misconceptions. The complete setup—Learn the pros and cons of growing marijuana in a closet, tent, or grow room, and get comprehensive instructions and equipment lists that work for any indoor setting. Visual guidance—Detailed diagrams and illustrations clearly explain complex concepts so you can grow cannabis at home with confidence. Tips for growing the best buds—Discover at-a-glance tables that make it easy to harvest hearty, seedless buds, with information on how to rig lighting, lay out your space, maintain proper nutrients, control pests, and prune your plants. Discover the joy of growing marijuana with this comprehensive guide to indoor cultivation for beginners.

Collects in a single volume the title work and its follow-up entitled Eight weeks at a summer resort.

According to Forbes magazine,* marijuana is “Canada’s most valuable agricultural product — bigger than wheat, cattle or timber.” Bud Inc. gives us an inside look at this thriving homegrown industry. Although the cultivation and selling of marijuana remains illegal in Canada, it is already big business, especially in British Columbia. Law enforcement officials estimate that the annual wholesale value of B.C. marijuana is now $6 billion, about 5% of the province’s total economy. If these stats are correct, it is B.C.’s largest export. Ontario and Quebec are not far behind. Vancouver journalist Ian Mulgrew has been following the rise of this underground economy for some time, and knows all the key players, political and entrepreneurial. Comparisons to the rum-runners of the Prohibition era are not unfounded. These so-called “pot barons” are all savvy businessmen who have built their empires using tried and true business models. Cash-strapped governments, pharmaceutical companies and other big businesses are well aware of the potential profits, and Canada has been at the forefront of the global movement to legalize medical marijuana and decriminalize the recreational use of the drug. Estimates vary, but it’s thought that nearly a million people in Canada could benefit from medicinal marijuana, yet only about a thousand are currently legally authorized to use it. Many feel that marijuana should be grown, regulated and taxed like any other commodity. Following the evolution of the marijuana trade from rich kids smuggling it in their luggage, to trans-oceanic operations involving tons of dope, to today’s thriving multi-billion-dollar domestic industry, Bud Inc. is a fascinating study of real-life supply-and-demand economics. *November 2003