Smoke Signals: A Social History of Marijuana - Medical, Recreational, and Scientific

Written by Martin A. Lee

Narrated by Nick Podehl

Martin A. Lee traces the dramatic social history of marijuana from its origins to its emergence in the 1960s as a defining force in a culture war that has never ceased. Lee describes how the illicit marijuana subculture overcame government opposition and morphed into a dynamic, multibillion-dollar industry.

In 1996, California voters approved Proposition 215, legalizing marijuana for medicinal purposes. Similar laws have followed in more than a dozen other states, but not without antagonistic responses from federal, state, and local law enforcement. Lee, an award-winning investigative journalist, draws attention to underreported scientific breakthroughs that are reshaping the therapeutic landscape. By mining the plant’s rich pharmacopoeia, medical researchers have developed promising treatments for cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, chronic pain, and many other conditions that are beyond the reach of conventional cures.

Colorful, illuminating, and at times irreverent, this is a fascinating listen for recreational users and patients, students and doctors, musicians and accountants, Baby Boomers and their kids, and anyone who has ever wondered about the secret life of this ubiquitous herb.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brilliance Audio
• Release date: Aug 14, 2012
• ISBN: 9781469216355

Martin A. Lee

Martin A. Lee is the author of three previous books, including Acid Dreams (with coauthor Bruce Shlain) and The Beast Reawakens. He is the cofounder and director of Project CBD, an educational service that reports on developments in cannabis science and therapeutics

Reviews for Smoke Signals

[Linda Nockideneh · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love listening while I drive. I’m amazed at all the information covered.

[mumbles86 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is obviously a pro-marijuana slanted book, but it does a good job of explaining the origins of marijuana prohibition, particularly the racist arguments for banning marijuana and how the government intentionally lied to the public with regards to the harm and potential benefits of marijuana.

[rmharris_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

An excellent, well-researched look at the US Government's attempts to curb the use of marijuana. Very upsetting in that Lee shows how the war on this particular drug has been guided more by concerns over controlling certain populations (African Americans, Mexicans, 'Hippies', etc) than by science. How many people who could have been helped through the medicinal use of marijuana/THC have suffered because of politics? Smoke Signals is a very important book that I hope leads to greater sanity with regard to local, state and federal drug policy in the future.