The Best Cannabis Books Everyone Should Read

The internet is an excellent resource for expanding your knowledge on cannabis, but there’s nothing like picking up a good book. Not sure where to start though? It’s easy to get lost in a sea of literature, so we’ve rounded up our top cannabis reads right here.

Whether you’re looking to learn more about cannabis cultivation at home or boning up on the history of cannabis, there’s a book out there for you. Here’s our top 10 favourites to get you started. We’ve even grouped them by their respective subgenres.

Our 10 Picks For Books on Cannabis

Cannabis Cultivation Books

Marijuana Grower’s Handbook: Your Complete Guide for Medical and Personal Marijuana Cultivation by Ed Rosenthal. (2010)

The Marijuana Grower’s Handbook is a comprehensive guide for beginners and advanced growers that teaches you how to grow great marijuana—indoors or outdoors. With 500 pages of full-colour photos and illustrations, this book delivers all the basics that a novice grower needs to know and advanced research for the experienced gardener. Or, anyone with a “green thumb” really.  

All aspects of cultivation are covered, from the selection of varieties to harvesting, and are accompanied by stunning photographs. The author’s growing tips come from his 30 years of experience teaching people how to grow marijuana.

Marijuana Horticulture: The Indoor/Outdoor Medical Grower’s Bible by Jorge Cervantes (2006)

This book initially came out in 1983 and was later translated into five different languages when it became a bestseller. With new chapters and colourful illustrations on indoor and outdoor growing techniques, there’s something in here that all growers can take away.

It has 512 pages and over 1000 illustrations and pictures, making it an enjoyable read and a great coffee table book.

Cannabis Cookbooks

Bong Appétit: Mastering the Art of Cooking with Weed By Editors of Munchies (2018)

Bong Appétit was inspired by MUNCHIES and Viceland television series. It’s an excellent resource for anyone who wants to spice up their cooking with serious, sophisticated cannabis dishes, from weed butter-basted chicken to weed chimichurri and weed brownie sundaes.  

This book inspires culinary creativity through cannabis-infused recipes that also breaks down the science of cooking with cannabis and how to properly dose. “Bong Appétit” will teach you how to pair strains and flavours, as well as offer tips from MUNCHIE’s vast network of experts, including stars like Ry Prichard and Vanessa Lavorato.

Herb: Mastering The Art Of Cooking With Cannabis by The Stoner’s Herb, Melissa Parks, Laurie Wolf (2015)

If you love to cook and have a passion for all things cannabis, this book is a go-to. It offers over 200 beautifully illustrated recipes that elevates cooking with weed into an art form while providing reliable science-backed knowledge.

Two of the best cannabis chefs, Melissa Parks and Laurie Wolf, share their highly developed recipes that revolve around complimenting and downplaying the taste of the cannabis so that each meal can be enjoyed to the fullest. Discover expert tips on how to create potent infusers,  understand better how to dose and learn about famous cannabis strains. 

Books About Medical Cannabis

CBD: A Patient’s Guide to Medicinal Cannabis by Leonard Leinow and Juliana Birnbaum

If you’re curious about CBD and its health benefits, this book is for you. CBD: A Patient’s Guide to Medicinal Cannabis is a practical and accessible guide for new and experienced cannabis users. 

This book will teach everything you need to know about CBD with leading research, dosage recommendations and delivery methods. It also explains potential interactions this healing cannabinoid may have with other medications you’re already taking or foods that could trigger an allergic reaction.

Cannabis Pharmacy: The Practical Guide To Medical Marijuana by Michael Backes (2014)

The Cannabis Pharmacy book is a fantastic read for medical cannabis patients who want to increase their knowledge of the plant or recreational users who want to learn how to use cannabis. 

The author, Michael Backes, provides high-quality information with easy-to-understand language and illustrations that will keep you engaged from cover to cover.

Cannabis Reads On Recreational Use

How to Smoke Pot (Properly) by David Bienenstock (2016)

Do you want to know how to smoke pot (properly)? With insider tips from some of the world’s most famous stoners like Willie Nelson and Dave Chapelle included in its pages, How To Smoke Pot Properly will teach you everything you need for a successful cannabis experience!

Get pro tips from stoner celebrities and thought leaders of the marijuana movement. Learn about the basics of smoking and how cannabis might offer a safer alternative to both alcohol and many pharmaceutical drugs.

Weed: The User’s Guide by David Schmader (2016)

This book guides it’s readers on how to clean a bong, transform an apple into a pipe, and what to do if you are “greening out.” Weed: The User’s Guide is packed with history, various consumption methods and recipes, safety tips, and medical-use information.

It gets even more fun when the author talks about which presidents were potheads. This book will not only be a great read but a fabulous addition to your library!

Other Cannabis-Related Books

Cannabis And Spirituality: An Explorer’s Guide to an Ancient Plant Spirit Ally by Julie Holland (2016)

If you’re spiritual, you might want to explore more of the supernatural world and get connected with your higher self using cannabis. The Cannabis And Spirituality: An Explorer’s Guide to an Ancient Plant Spirit Ally is equipped with detailed information on how to get started using this ancient herb for your spiritual journey today.

This groundbreaking book explores how to integrate the use of marijuana into a wide range of spiritual practices. It includes meditation, yoga, chanting, visualization, shamanism, and group ceremonies.

It’s Just a Plant by Ricardo Cortés (2013)

It’s Just a Plant is an illustrated book that follows a little girl’s journey as she learns more about the healing plant. Her guidance comes from all sorts of different characters, including her parents, who grow it at home; a local farmer, a doctor, and a police officer!

It’s a perfect book for parents who want to approach the conversation with their kids about cannabis. While it does not advocate for cannabis, it provides factual information about the plant and educates on how to protect them from dangers like drug dealers or traffickers.

Let’s Get Reading

With so many cannabis genres of books to choose from, it can be hard to know which one is right for you. We hope this list helps you find your perfect match. 

No matter what book you pick up, exploring and expanding your cannabis knowledge is always a great idea. Happy reading!

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