Pubdate: Tue, 07 Jan 2003
Source: Ubyssey (CN BC Edu)
Contact:  http://www.ubyssey.bc.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/706
Author: Shaun Stewart, Culture Writer

IT'S A DOPE, DOPE WORLD

Pot Planet: Adventures In Global Marijuana Culture By Brian Preston [Grove 
Press]

After reading Brian Preston's Pot Planet, I have decided two things about 
it. First, despite my expectations, it's really good. Most pro-pot 
literature is more along the lines of propaganda. Pot Planet is just good 
story-telling. Second, it took a lot of balls to write this thing.

Preston traveled across five continents in search of marijuana culture, 
seeking out regular pot-heads along with those who view pot as a vital part 
of religious celebration. I'd like to know what he told border guards he 
was doing in their countries.

The book is like the stoner's version of a travel guide. But more fun. 
Preston's done an excellent job of mixing his own story with accounts of 
each area's history of marijuana acceptance or prohibition. It is one of 
those rarities that is actually both entertaining and informative.

The tone of most of the book is pretty light, as the author travels through 
areas where the people are used to North American back-packers asking them 
where they can score some weed, even though it's not likely many of the 
visitors want to sit and talk about things that can go into their global 
marijuana culture books. Many of these areas, particularly in Asia, have 
had the right to grow marijuana freely for thousands of years, and have 
only recently had to succumb to America's war on drugs and prohibit this plant.

There is also a focus on the movement in North America to supply people 
with marijuana medicinally, especially sufferers of epilepsy and AIDS, and 
America's fear-induced move away from the practice despite its success.

The book does get a little preachy toward the end, as Preston tries to tack 
together the right mix of closing thoughts, but by then the issue feels 
like it deserves it. Marijuana prohibition has had many ugly side-effects 
(and seriously, this is prohibition of a plant in its natural form, a plant 
that has been on this planet for thousands of years longer than we have), 
and Preston is right in suggesting a change is required.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth