A visually rich and culturally comprehensive study that traces the journey of cannabis from its ancient roots in the East—where it is revered as the elixir of Shiva—to its complex legal and culinary status in the modern Western world. Borougerdi balances hard science with art, photography, and social history.
A plant much maligned and viewed with suspicion, cannabis has always been a wonder to me. In India, its most famous and socially accepted form is bhang, the elixir of Lord Shiva. But cannabis is far more than just an intoxicant; its healing and medicinal properties have long been integrated into holistic practices and alternative medicine.
What I found particularly compelling about the book Cannabis: A Global History by Bradley J. Borougerdi is its ability to present the plant in its totality—examining its inherent properties alongside the human struggle to control it. It also carries a “Parental Discretion Advised” disclaimer, acknowledging that cannabis derivatives—charas, marijuana, majoun, hashish, and bhang—can be addictive substances.
Borougerdi explores the botanical, medicinal, and recreational uses of the plant globally, with a specific focus on the Western world. Unlike most paperbacks, this book is interlaced with vibrant photographs that encompass a wide range of subjects: botanical illustrations, vintage posters, traveler tales, miniatures, and paintings. Divided into six chapters, the book concludes with an extensive bibliography and recipes from both the old and new worlds.
If botany isn’t your forte, the book simplifies the science: the cannabis plant has distinct genders, male and female. It isn’t a typical plant where reproductive power resides within a single organism. Furthermore, the specific concentration of molecular substances determines whether it serves as an intoxicant or a medicine. Its capacity to alleviate pain is widely recognized and used extensively in herbal medicine.
While the plant has always been revered in India through rituals related to Lord Shiva, Borougerdi tracks its different trajectory in the West. He illustrates the progression of laws, the dismantling of its label as “only” an addictive substance, and its gradual acceptance over centuries for medicinal use.
Based on my own experiences with bhang, I associate it with fits of unchecked laughter and long hours of deep sleep. Of course, anything in excess is harmful and must be avoided.
I specifically enjoyed the photographs, including one depicting the process of making bhang in Punjab. I have witnessed this in real life; I’ve even tasted it and found it not intoxicating at all. Another photo features a shop selling bhang products in Jaisalmer—a shop I have seen in person, though I never had the chance to try their wares.
The book also explores the “accidental” way the plant became a staple in culinary creations like brownies, cakes, and cocktails. Borougerdi notes:
Canada became an attractive country for beverage company start-ups after it legalised cannabis in 2018… The market has been flooded with various types of teas, tonics, liquors and brews… including hempseed beer… as well as coffees infused with THC or CBD.” (p. 112)
It was fascinating to read about the pioneers who crafted these recipes, such as Warren Bobrow, the self-described “Cocktail Whisperer,” and the legendary Alice B. Toklas, known for her fudges. The book even traces the “Hashish Trail,” stretching from Europe through Turkey and Iran all the way to Bangkok. Reading this has even sent me on a search for the 1968 film I Love You, Alice B. Toklas.
Depending on your interest and maturity, the book offers varied recipes ranging from cookies and salads to Bhang Thandai. Overall, it is an educative read for anyone keen to understand the complex world of plants—and the history of their use and misuse. Personally, it changed my perspective towards recipe books, making them storehouses of cultural significance, historical narration, and societal preferences.
About the Author
Bradley J. Borougerdi is professor of history at Tarrant County College in Arlington, Texas. He is the author of Commodifying Cannabis: A Cultural History of a Complex Plantin the Atlantic World.
Book Details
- Publisher: Pan Macmillan India
- Language: English
- Print length:168 pages
- Price: INR 599
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