Book and movie reviews about marijuana, hashish, and growing marijuana

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Book Reviews About Growing Marijuana

Cannabis Cultivation:
A Complete Growers Guide

The author uses clear and concise language with just enough information to clearly show how to set up and then manage a garden. Look at the illustrations of all the different set ups and combine it with the text, then set up your grow area to your own personal space.

A book best suited for the first time grower who has not set up a grow area yet. Will show you how to maximize yield in a small area. The book describes both soil and hydroponic gardens indoors as well as growing with soil outdoors. Black and white illustrations throughout the book with two sections of color photos.

Grow Great Marijuana:
An Uncomplicated Guide to
Growing the World's Finest Cannabis

If you find instructions and books about growing hydroponic marijuana overly technical and hard to follow, this book is a very good choice for simple and accurate instructions. It does not cover advanced techniques so if you already know how to grow, this book would be of little value. But if you are a first time grower with no experience, this is the first book to look at.

It will explain the steps involved from start to finish (with text and images). Includes information on where to grow, type of hydroponic system to use, selecting a seed strain, lighting, fans, nutrients, security, clones, vegetative growth, flowering, harvesting, stress, pests, and more. Recommended for beginners only, this will show you everything you need to raise a hydroponic marijuana crop.

Jorge Cervantes' Ultimate Grow DVD

This movie shows step by step instructions covering what is involved in setting up a grow room and growing a crop of marijuana indoors (with soil or hydroponics). It won't teach advanced techniques but it will help you set up your grow room and raise your first crop. There is very little information about growing outdoors, this is for indoor growers.

Jorge Cervantes' Ultimate Grow DVD 2

Similar to Jorge Cervantes' Ultimate Grow DVD (above), but this version focuses more on growing outdoors. It won't teach advanced techniques but it will help you set up and raise your first crop outdoors. There is very little information about growing indoors, this is for outdoor growers.

Marijuana Botany

Very good book about breeding marijuana and improving the quality and quantity of your crop. This has information from doctors, scientists, horticulturists, and other professionals. Collected from 50 years of laboratory and field research.

Not for the small time grower, this is more for commercial operations and advanced growers. Understanding this book requires that you have a some knowledge of horticultural and scientific terminology.

Marijuana Chemistry:
Genetics, Processing And Potency

Explains the various cannabinoids that marijuana is made up of and how things like growing conditions, harvesting, processing, affect the potency of the final product.

Lots of tables, graphs, and other info. Recommended for the intermediate and expert marijuana grower, this is heavy on chemistry. If you do not have a very good grasp of science and chemistry this book is not for you.

Marijuana Horticulture:
The Indoor/Outdoor Medical Grower's Bible

Over 500 pages with more than 1000 color images. If you were only going to get one book about growing, this book would be the best choice. Describes growing marijuana outdoors and indoors (with hydroponics or soil).

Also provides information that you can refer back to when things go wrong. A very comprehensive reference book for anyone interested in growing marijuana, either indoors or outdoors. Recommended for beginners and more advanced growers.

Marijuana New School:
Indoor Cultivation

Not for the beginner, this is more for some with a bit of experience looking to improve thier operation. Shows some basic and advanced steps involved in growing hydroponic marijuana indoors. Includes information about seeds, clones, building a grow room, growing, harvesting, breeding, composting, and troubleshooting.

In addition it includes some very good information about organic hydroponics and making your own custom built hydroponic garden. About 250 pages of text and black and white illustrations with an additional 48 pages of color photos.

Marijuana New School:
Outdoor Cultivation

Primarily about growing marijuana outdoors with hydroponics. The book shows various hydroponic set-ups you can build for outdoor use, then how to grow marijuana with them. Recommended for experienced outdoor soil growers with a knowledge of hydroponics. About 150 pages with an additional 14 pages of color photos.

First time outdoor growers should grow with soil until they are confident in their ability to raise marijuana before even considering using hydroponics outdoors. This book would be most appreciated by someone interested in outdoor hydroponics with experience growing both indoors with hydroponics and outdoors with soil.

The Big Book of Buds:
Marijuana Varieties from
the World's Great Seed Breeders

This full color guide shows various marijuana strains from around the world. Includes info like plant type (sativa or indica), flowering time, where to plant (in or outdoors), expected yield size, origin of the strain, taste, strength of stone, etc.

Intended for growers who want to compare different marijuana strains to decide what type of seed is right for their particular situation. There are 3 volumes, each book is alphabetically arranged and has descriptions of about 100 varieties.

Volume 1 contains the largest number of easier to find strains (like big bud, bubble gum, haze 19 x skunk, jack herer, master kush, northern lights, super skunk, white widow). Volumes 2 and 3 deal mostly with harder to find strains that would appeal to experienced growers.

The Cannabible

Of the 1500+ strains of marijuana the author of this series of books has studied, he put over 100 into each volume. Superb images (over 400 full-color photographs) of both living plants as well as the harvested product are shown in each volume along with descriptions of their aromas, flavors, effects, and origins of the strain.

Volume 1 would be the most useful to almost any grower. It contains most of the popular marijuana strains available at the present time. Volumes 2 and 3 contain primarily harder to find strains that experienced growers would be interested in.

A person interested getting all 3 books should look at the cannabible collection, a three volume softcover mini-edition featuring the most popular marijuana strains from volumes 1,2, and 3. Links are provided below to softcover editions, each book was also released in hardcover form.

The Cannabis Breeder's Bible:
The Definitive Guide to
Marijuana Genetics, Cannabis Botany
and Creating Strains for the Seed Market

Very good book for the advanced grower that wants to produce their own premium seed variety for personal use, or to market and sell worldwide. Contains photographs, illustrations, and interviews with breeders and seed bank professionals.

Covers such topics as genetics and breeding, the science of cannabis (DNA, evolution, etc), developing your own strain, international seed law issues, protecting your new breeds or strains from being produced and sold by others, shipping seeds and clones, breeding lab designs, product testing, common mutations, and more.

The Cannabis Grow Bible:
The Definitive Guide to Growing Marijuana
for Recreational and Medical Use

A very good source of information covering all aspects of growing, from seed selection to harvest, curing and more. Over 300 pages with almost 200 color and black-and-white photographs, charts, and tables. Recommended reference book for indoor and outdoor growers.

A great marijuana growing and breeding guide. Includes chapters on seeds, propagation and germination, growing indoors, growing outdoors, hydroponics, pre-flowering and flowering, predators, pests and plant fungi, breeding, and more.

Book Reviews About Marijuana

Ask Ed:
Marijuana Gold: Trash to Stash

A very informative little book that covers a wealth of facts related to consuming marijuana that any user will appreciate. Highly recommended.

Includes using a vaporizer, producing kief, various methods of making hashish, producing marijuana drinks, making marijuana pills, cooking with weed and more. Lots of black and white illustrations with several pages of full color photos.

Cannabis

Easy to read history of marijuana. Topics covered include effects on the human body, religious use, recreational use, medical use, international drug laws, synthetic cannabis and more.

Over 250 pages, it looks at the history of the cannabis plant. Although it is primarily about marijuana, it does contain some hashish content. Dozens of pictures, many in color, are a welcome addition to the informative text.

Cannabis and Cannabinoids:
Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutic Potential

Researchers from Europe, the US, Australia, and Brazil focus on the health aspects of cannabis and cannabinoids, mentioning social and political dimensions only when required within the medicinal discussion.

They consider botany, taxonomy, chemistry, and history; pharmacology and pharmacokinetics; indications for cannabis and THC; risks and side effects; other cannabinoids; and other constituents of cannabis.

Emperor of Hemp (Movie)

Not just a pro marijuana film, a historical, political, and medical story of the hemp plant. This film is well produced, interesting, entertaining, and informative, even for those who have no interest in hemp/marijuana.

The realized and unrealized potential of the hemp plant is staggering, and this film clearly demonstrates how our country is being needlessly deprived of one of nature's most diverse and valuable renewable resources.

Grass (Movie)

Documentary about how the American government did all it could to make marijuana look like a drug so bad, no one would ever want to try it. Includes scenes from newsreels, government propaganda films, and movies.

A good film similar to the atomic cafe in the way uses historical film to tell the story of what the government will do to try to brainwash its citizens on a large scale. Worth watching for anyone interested in the subject. Movie runtime is about 80 minutes, bonus material runs about another 30 minutes.

Highlights:
An Illustrated History of Cannabis

Cannabis history from recreational to medicinal to industrial with dozens of full-color illustrations, rare paintings, vintage and contemporary photographs.

Marijuana Medicine:
A World Tour of the
Healing and Visionary Powers of Cannabis

A history of how marijuana has been used as medicine for centuries by different cultures around the globe. Deals with various topics including botany, taxonomy, chemistry, pharmacology, alchemy, Nepal, China, Indian, Africa, and the Americas.

Recipes and remedies that contain marijuana are described as are the various diseases and conditions treated. The text is supplemented with black and white drawings and some full color images.

Marijuana Myths Marijuana Facts:
A Review Of The Scientific Evidence

You might want to read this if you are interested in marijuana, or want to discuss marijuana with your kids, but do not have enough facts to begin.

This is not propaganda put out by anti-drug crusaders, it is a scientific study of the facts. If you need to talk to your children about marijuana, and have them respect your opinion, get the facts.

Reefer Madness:
The History of Marijuana in America

Reefer Madness is the authors reply to the movie of the same name. But this is an honest version of the social history of marijuana use in America.

Beginning with the hemp farming of George Washington, author traces the fascinating story of our nation's love-hate relationship with the resilient weed we know as marijuana.

The Art and Science of Cooking With Cannabis

Unlike marijuana cook books, this is not just a book of recipes. It contains information about how the human body absorbs cannabis cooking (marijuana, hashish, and hash oil are all included) and how to extract the active ingredients into a medium you can work with. Besides that, preparation and recipes for food and drinks made with cannabis are covered.

Less than 100 pages, it is not overly technical and anyone should be able to follow it and have things turn out properly. If you are interested in making your own food and drinks this is the only book you need for a good understanding of the nature of cannabis and how to get the most out of it. Contains several recipes. If you want recipes only, this is not the book to get.

The Emperor Wears No Clothes:
The Authoritative Historical Record of Cannabis
and the Conspiracy Against Marijuana

Probably the best book around about the history, uses, and war on this plant. Over 300 pages of text, photos, illustrations and charts.

This book has been an eye opener to me and everyone else I know that has read it. You would be hard pressed to find a more complete source for information relating to the suppression of the hemp industry in the United States.

The Joint Rolling Handbook 2

This will help the novice roller learn the craft if they are willing to invest some time. The first part of the book describes the basics of how to roll a joint with information a person who rolls joints with marijuana, hashish, or hash oil should know.

The second part of the book shows how to roll different kinds of joints. From simple one paper joints to complicated multiple paper creations. A good book for beginners and more advanced students. Includes color images of all joints described.

The Magic Weed (Movie):
The Truth About Cannabis Sativa

The main feature is a 52 minute documentary that looks at the history of cannabis and hemp. Well done, but wish it was longer.

Bonus material 1) Bush Talk (15 minutes): Various people give their views on cannabis and hemp. 2) High Times Amsterdam (5 minutes): Behind the scenes at th 8th annual high times cannabis cup. 3) A Nice Day (10 minutes): Howard Marks in Paris. 4) Cannabis In Action (10 minutes): Various European hemp festivals and marches. Total running time including bonus material is about 100 minutes.

The Marijuana Chef Cookbook

Many different recipes for various food and drink formats. About 140 pages, it will show you how to produce the basic ingredients needed for marijuana cooking such as marijuana alcohol, marijuana butter, and marijuana flour.

Recipes like Primo Poultry, Nutter Butter, Midnight Pizza, Primeval Pasta, and Chocca Mocha make up the bulk of the book. In addition, potency issues, health information, legal tips, and a culinary history of weed are presented.

The Marijuana Conviction:
A History of Marijuana Prohibition
in the United States

Comprehensive look at marijuana and drug prohibition. Written by members of Nixon's very own committee delegated to the task of researching marijuana, it's history, effects, and whether the drug policy at the time was a sensible one. They found that it was not, and suggested a serious rethinking of marijuana laws.

However, instead of listening to his own research committee Nixon decided to start the now infamous war on drugs. Though this book only follows prohibition up to the early 70s, as that's when it was published, it contains the essential history of marijuana prohibition which most people are not familiar with.

The Marijuana Food Handbook:
A Guide for the Sensuous Connoisseur

About 150 pages, besides dozens of recipes, the book looks at various aspects of the uses of marijuana as food for healing various illnesses and for recreational purposes. If you are using marijuana for medical purposes, eating or drinking might be the healthiest way to consume the herb.

Calculating the dosage, flavoring extracts, storing extracts, overdoses, and other aspects of use are included. A few liqueurs are here for those that would to prefer drinking but most of the recipes are for food.

The Science of Marijuana

Written by Leslie L. Iversen, Professor of Pharmacology at University of Oxford, this book is for an advanced audience looking for detailed scientific facts about marijuana. It is fairly easy to read, but it contains too much technical info that the casual reader would not find useful.

A few of the 100 or so sections are: The Plant, Eating and Drinking, A Brief History, The Pharmacology of THC, How Does THC Get to the Brain?, Elimination of THC from the Body, How Does THC Work?, Higher Brain Function, Comparisons of Marijuana with Alcohol, Cannabis in Pregnancy, Cannabis and Mental Illness, and more, and more, and more.

Book Reviews About Hashish

Cannabis Alchemy:
The Art of Modern Hashmaking:
Methods for Preparation of
Extremely Potent Cannabis Products

Tells you exactly how to prepare cannabis extracts (oil). Not for home users, this is for chemists with large quantities of marijuana and access to a lab. It contains some information for home users but there is better info online for free.

Nice book if you would like to make hash oil. Sounds like it would deal with hashmaking, but the book is very brief when it comes to that. It only tells of one way to make hash. If you are interested in making hash, get the book "Hashish" below.

Hashish

Over 350 very well researched pages about the history, consumption, production, and other aspects of the substance known as hashish. The book is easy to read and the only book to get if you are interested in making, using, or learning about hashish.

The first 300 pages thoroughly trace hash history, methods of consumption, pressing, storing, and cultures. The last 50 pages go into great detail about traditional and modern methods of making, hashish.

Well illustrated with dozens if not hundreds of black and white images and graphs, with 16 full page, full color images. Appealing to hashish and marijuana users and history lovers.

Hashish (Movie)

A documentary about hashish production (using the sieve process) in the mountains of Morocco. Hashish has been produced in the area for centuries and each new generation engages in the art. For some people it is the only way to earn a living. This movie explores the effect of hashish on a group of people from Morocco who make and use the drug.

While hash from Morocco is not as potent as the most of the hash produced in Afghanistan or Nepal, this is still an interesting movie for anyone interested in the subject. This is not a movie about how to make hashish, it is about the lives of some of the people who make it. Run time is 80 minutes.

The Great Books of Hashish

A series of books that explores hashish and cannabis from around the world. They are not instructions on how to make hash, they are primarily full color photographs of hashish (or marijuana). Book 1 is the best, it is a 'picture book' strictly about hashish. Although it doesn't give instructions on how to make hash, it does show some of the steps involved.

Book 2 is a 'picture book' strictly about marijuana. Book 3 is a 'picture book' mainly about marijuana with a few pictures of hashish. Links are provided to the softcover editions which usually sell for $50-$250 each. Hardcover editions were also printed and they sell for higher prices. A worthwhile set, if you have the money.

Book 2 - 208 pages and over 550 color photographs. Marijuana in Afghanistan, Burma, Colombia, India, Jamaica, Lebanon, Mexico, Morocco, Nepal, Thailand, and USA.
The Great Books of Cannabis 2

Book 3 - 256 pages and over 1500 color photographs. Primarily marijuana (a few hashish pics) in Afghanistan, Bahamas, Belgium, Belize, Burma, Canada, Cayman Islands, Colombia, Costa Rica, Denmark, El Salvador, England, France, Germany, Guatemala, Holland, Honduras, Hungary, India, Italy, Jamaica, Lebanon, Mexico, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, and the USA.
The Great Books of Hashish 3

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