Book a big hit of Kiwi cannabis history
Weed: Anewzealand Story Byjamesborrowdale, Penguin Randomhouse, $35
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.. .. .. Asweapproach the poll to legalise cannabis in Newzealand, James Borrowdale points to one segment of the population that has largely remained silent: the users. Why? As the law stands, they can face up to eight years in jail and, although the impending referendummight have led to a gentler policing approach, many imbibers it seems get used to nursing their singed fingers and laying low.
Borrowdale, a non-user and journalist, takes it upon himself to be their voice, to give the story of marijuana in this country, and the bizarre love affair manykiwis have with it, while takingsome note of establishment or contrary views.
And he even gets his hands dirty in thename of research, smoking it (legally, while visiting
Canada and the US) and even trying to grow a few plants (unsuccessfully).
Herakes over the history of prohibition, how nearly 100 years ago the government banned a drug it didn't know anything about and how, despite this, consumption escalated from the 60s onwards.
Healso relateshow the war on drugs led to three times more Maori going to jail than nonMaori; andhow the law both here and overseas has been used as a racist tool to suppress an underclass.
He also talks to people whoswear by cannabis as amedical wonder, or at least a promising treatment for pain, sleep and anxiety.
He follows the fortunes of the Aotearoa
Legalisecannabis Party, talks to politicians across the spectrum and threads together an argument that, essentially, it would be a crime not to legalise.
If, like me, you're wondering what motivated a non-user (although he dabbled in his teens) to write such a book, well, his journalistic instinct was piqued in 2017 by the sudden, soaring death toll of people smoking synthetic cannabis.
Myonly grudge is Borrowdale devotes an entire chapter to a pioneering nunwhomight have grown pot for medicinal purposes but, as he painstakingly points out, she equally might not have.
So, if you want to bone up on the pro side of the legalisation debate, then this is your book, packed with fascinating anecdotes, stats and facts, expert opinions, and typically Kiwi pearls of wisdom from the interview subjects. Only, if you're in a hurry, skip Chapter 2. – Petershand