A light, yet informative read about the misinformation surrounding the history of marijuana in the US. Not everything was new to me, but it definitely reinforced my belief that not all drugs should be treated equally.

Excellent and informative look at the history of marijuana, including the inherent racism surrounding its use and punishment for it.

Wish I didn't get this to review. Within some growing of the country I have changed my view on things and this is one of them. I am not a fan of this and not even the best book to try and convince me.

I am very interested in the subject matter, but I found the telling scattered and hard to follow for someone who wasn't already familiar with the incidents and history documented here. This reads more like preaching to the choir than an approachable history. The images are striking, all the more so for the simplicity of the figures, but I would have liked more guidance for the reader, instead of the skipping about we got. A stronger framework and bigger context would have been appreciated. I have enjoyed and recommended some of the author's previous books, but by comparison, this was dull, unstructured, and repetitive.

I wanted to like this book more. I read and enjoyed the author's book Andre the Giant. Plus this book seems like a good timely choice given the current legalization movement in the United States. However, it is a book I would consider optional at best.

The book looks at the story of cannabis in the United States and how the movement to make it illegal was often motivated by race and class. At times, authorities did not care until it was white young people doing the drugs. Once that happened, moralists began to pressure the government to make it illegal.

The narrative of the story is not very good. It starts with various small scenes that can lack a sense of continuity. A big issue is the book gets seriously bogged down with Harry Aslinger's story. He was the first commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics and cannabis' enemy number one. Yes, he was an important figure, but he basically takes over the rest of the book. Readers may get the impression not much of anything else happened in the 20th century related to cannabis. The last part of the book as a result feels rushed and less substantial. It feels as if the author ran out of space and had to rush the ending.

The result is that what could have been an interesting topic gets bogged down and becomes a drag to read. Readers may feel an urge to skim in order to get past Aslinger's story. Also the text can be a bit dry, like a textbook.

Overall, this book was just OK. For libraries, this is definitely optional. I've bought other books by this author for our library, but I am skipping this one for our library.

Fascinating look into the racist history behind the demonization of cannabis. Box’s book is an easy yet enlightening read.

Cannabis: The Illegalization of Weed in America
By Box Brown
First Second Books

Box Brown’s new book might technically be a historical examination of the efforts by some to keep marijuana from being consumed, but it’s just as much a sprawling documentation of human prejudice and the mass hysteria of crowds, with cannabis as the measure by which these observations are presented. You could probably do a similar book that makes the same observations through other controversial items, that’s just how predictable and exhausting we are as a species, but Brown deserves a lot of credit for this information tour de force.

Brown starts with the theoretical first user to describe what pot actually does within the body to create a high, and therefore the science of marijuana’s appeal, and then dives straight into Hindu mythology detailing the convoluted and at some point comic events that led to Shiva receiving a cannabis plant. Brown follows with an interlude taking place in 1893, documenting how the gift to Shiva developed into a cannabis-infused drink, bhang, used by Shiva worshippers in their rituals, and led to the creation of a straight pipe to smoke the cannabis.

These developments made cannabis popular in India in the 19th century and prompted the British Raj and its Indian Hemp Commission to go forward with a study that, with an unhealthy determination to prove cannabis use to be dangerous and debilitating despite medical testimony stating the opposite. The doubt remained, the bias remained, but the ability to tax the sales had the British Raj rejoicing.



And that, in a nutshell, sums up the issues with pot. Its modern image is part of a longterm moral hysteria on the part of the powers-that-be that are trying to figure out some way to use it to exact control — either through depriving citizens of it or figuring out how to make a profit off it even if these powers simultaneously belittle users. But look through the history of the world and you’re going to find a lot more awfulness than good. Human life, that is, the life of common humans and not rulers, has traditionally, has been painful, hard, and dangerous, subject to poverty, disease, incarceration, slavery, and regular employment as cannon fodder. Why wouldn’t the majority of human beings just want to get high, just to get through this horrible nonsense?

It was Cortes who brought hemp to the New World, along with all the horribleness that destroys human life and causes humans to crave self-medicating. It was brought to grow for industrial use, but by 1760, recreational use had grown as well, causing alarm in the Catholic Church in Mexico. More judgment from those with power followed, though they couldn’t contain its use, and when cannabis spread to the U.S. by Mexicans fleeing the revolution in 1914, it once again was accompanied with a presumption of danger that seemed a partially racist reaction, which only grew as a tool of oppression and overshadowed its acknowledged medicinal qualities. It fueled an anti-Latinx militantism that is still a major issue in our country a century later.

As cannabis use found its way into music subcultures mostly populated by African Americans and moved in those circles from New Orleans to Chicago and onward, it began to ignite white hysteria when it was perceived that it was becoming a problem with white kids. Concern for white kids becomes a signal of racism — perceived self-destruction was okay when it was people of color — that includes a terror of racial infection — imagine, good white kids, taking on the foul habits of people of color.



And so the history of cannabis becomes intertwined with the history of imperialism, the history of racism, where using urban legends to manipulate the data gives permission for systematic oppression of people of color, as well as whites who practiced tolerance and “mixed” with people designated as others. The standards of American culture are set in motion and even in 2019, Trumpism feels like the last stand for one of the sides in this long battle — ironic since Trumpism has gained power through the same kind of campaign of misinformation as anti-cannabis hysteria.

Lies are power, it seems, and the mastermind of these American lies is Henry J. Anslinger, the first commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics whose career Brown places as the very center of the hysterical and racist narrative our country has live with in regard to cannabis. Anslinger takes up a huge portion of Brown’s book with his prolific efforts to shape the national view of cannabis, but like Trump, Anslinger is really just the personification of a tendency that is already there, but is also ready to take advantage of it for the worst possible outcome, which may well have happened as marijuana laws in the U.S. became more backward, and the international community was pressured to do the same in their own countries.



We appear to be making a slow recovery from cannabis prohibition, and hopefully, as part of that, we can address the vile, oppressive aspects of our society that fueled the effort.

Brown is impressively skilled at documenting the misinformation and racism that has accompanied the history of cannabis, exhibiting obviously meticulous research to show how these issues are ones that real people, on the ground, dealt with, in opposition to positions of power in government and medicine. He’s especially good at weaving a tapestry of data and misinformation to create a full picture of how society perceives cannabis. But Brown is also able to put the anecdotes and information into not only a narrative formation but also one that forms a convincing argument that the historical decks have been stacked cannabis.

Like all good histories, Brown’s is cohesive and clear, but also takes a specific topic and weaves it through other aspects of our culture in order to find out how it all fits together, and what it all means. Through this method, I’m afraid the United States doesn’t come off looking well and I can’t disagree with any of the presentations. Through the cannabis lens, we come off a nation desperate for comforting fibs and prone to mass hysteria, convinced that there is some boogeyman for what we perceive as all our problems, never willing to just calmly look inward and make improvements.

The first thing I always look for in a graphic novel is the art. I really enjoyed the art of this graphic novel itself but would have loved for it to be in color (this was an arc so I don't know if this is something it will have or not). A very interesting story about how Cannabis went from a spiritual experience to something believed to increase sexual crimes and cause insanity. I loved seeing the history of a drug I thought I knew a decent amount about but clearly didn't. It is a wake up call however to marijuana politics and how there was no real basis for the illegalization of it in the first place. Studies were conducted and doctor's were interviewed and due to racial bias this science was ignored. An overall good read for people who would like to know more about cannabis, it's various uses and what eventually caused it to be made illegal.

I received this book from NetGalley. I love graphic histories and this is a well-done one. Box Brown tells the story of the global history of cannabis before leading into the history of prohibition in the United States and around the world.

History and politics tend to be dry and long subjects and graphic novels like this one help to alleviate some of that mental pressure. The drawings and facts are extremely engaging individually and would be a great tool to educate others about the politicization of cannabis. I appreciate all the details of language and certain terms have become part of the normal social vocabulary that would allow others to be careful with their words in the future. I was drawn in by the color and detail of the cover and I wish that translated into the book itself.

Fairly topical overview of the modern history of marijuana in legislation, culture, and medicine. Brown does a great job in introducing points and individuals that spark interest in further reading.

This books is a little slow moving and seems to repeat itself a little. However, it was full of information and gave a complete history on the illegalization of weed. The story is easy to follow and I left it feeling like I knew a little more. It also revamped my passion in the fight to legalize!

Informative yet boring. For a graphic novel I was hoping for some enjoyment, but with a simplistic art style, this could have easily been a non-fiction novel. #cannabis #netgalley

Cannabis was an enlightening look into the story of the plant and how America used misinformation to outlaw it. I personally am for legal cannabis so i found this story enjoyable and backing up my own ideals. The charming comics are easy to digest and not the over hyped hallucinogen art used by those against cannabis. I learned a few things especially with the use of the word "muggles."
I would encourage anyone to read this to see what science actually says and get past the propaganda put out by the antis.

*I received an e-arc of this graphic novel rom the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

So, I’ve only read two of Box Brown’s graphic novels (this & Tetris) but at this point, I think I’d be willing to read anything by him.
The way he flows the information together, along with the illustrations so cohesively is so beautifully done.

I did notice a few extra words/typos in this so hopefully that will be fixed before this is released in April. And there was a note that a Bibliography would be included, which will be great. Brown refers to many documents and studies throughout that I think readers may want to read as well if they are looking for further reading.

As far as recommending this title goes, I would highly recommend it. However, with this sometimes being a controversial topic, I would note that Brown has a clear stance in this graphic novel that some may disagree with.

Despite Marijuana being a hot button topic today, the history is not known very well. This graphic novel details how marijuana, and all its various nicknames, went from very legal to very illegal and the societal backlash that went along with it, not just in America but around the globe. It was highly informative and enjoyable to read.

Told in his signature style, Box Brown's latest nonfiction, graphic novel is a deep look into the history of the social, political, and academic war on marijuana use in the United States. Through a wide variety of sources and story-telling techniques, Brown explains the physiological effects of the drug and then follows its cultural origins from India to Central America and its entry into the United States. Much of the book focuses on the career of Henry J Anslinger as the 1st Commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics and his campaign to outlaw cannabis use because of its perceived immoral, violent, and racial connections to "inferior" peoples, Mexicans and African Americans.

Brown tells the story by depicting court scenes, newspaper stories, and many examples of the propaganda drummed up by Anslinger and his agency. The author includes some examples of positive uses, and the fight doctors and their patients wagged to combat growing public sentiment. For example, easing of chronic pain and aiding appetite for AIDs patients. Yet, he shows vividly how yellow journalism and sensational stories kept cannabis animosity festering.

A common question that always arises when discussing cannabis is why alcohol is legal while marijuana is not. This book does a great job answering that question by looking at the social context of the introduction of the drug into American culture. My only criticism would be that there may have been a few too many examples of the tabloid stories. And I wanted a few pages of speculation into the future of cannabis in the US, especially with laws recently passing in Colorado and California. 

Overall, an informative and well-illustrated look into the complex history of marijuana in our nation. 

4 out of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley, FirstSecond Books, and Box Brown for an advanced copy for review. 

The book can be ordered here at Amazon.

Received an ARC from netgalley for an honest opinion.
This is a really good graphic novel version of the basic history of marijuana and its uses. I enjoyed reading this book even if the visuals were a little basic. It gets all of the necessary information out there as to the history of the plant and how they demonized it for political and pharmaceutical industry gain.

Award-winning graphic novelist Box Brown is back with the real story of how cannabis - weed, marijuana, reefer - went from being a plant used for spiritual purposes to being labeled a gateway drug that caused "reefer madness". How did it happen, you say? Racism. Politics. Propaganda. Scare tactics. The usual song and dance. Box Brown has done his research and, combined with his minimalist artwork, presents a tale that will have you seeing the politics of marijuana (the origin of that name is in here, too, and it's a doozy) in an entirely new light.

The War on Drugs started long before Nancy Reagan went on Diff'rent Strokes and told kids to "just say no", and the fallout has targeted minorities - primarily young black men - and left thousands imprisoned for minor infractions. Studies have purposely included falsified data and allowed Harry J. Anslinger, the first commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, to perpetuate his war against narcotics by weaponizing moral outrage and using propaganda to get the plant a schedule 1 classification, putting it on par with heroin.

Ignatz Award winner Box Brown has a gift for nonfiction. While he's primarily done biographical graphic novels thus far, including Andre the Giant, Andy Kaufman, and the rise of the video game Tetris, Cannabis is a thoroughly researched, fully realized, history of marijuana, from its earliest recorded uses through the present day. It's a good add for your young adult/new adult collections and could be a good selection for a book group, especially with its increasing legality and medicinal usage.

A sporadic exploration of how we wound up with illegal marijuana - which is ultimately a history of racism coupled with purposeful misinformation.

I received an ARC of this comic via Netgalley.