More and more states are legalizing marijuana in some form. Moreover, a majority of the US population is in favor of the drug for recreational use. In the Weeds looks at how our society has become more permissive in the past 150 years - even though marijuana is still considered a Schedule I drug by the American government.

Sociologists Clayton Mosher and Scott Akins take a deep dive into marijuana policy reform, looking at the incremental developments and the historical, legal, social, and political implications of these changes. They investigate the effects, medicinal applications, and possible harms of marijuana. In the Weeds also considers arguments that youth will be heavy users of legalized cannabis, and shows how “weed” is demonized by exaggerations of the drug’s risks and claims of its lack of medicinal value. Mosher and Akins end their timely and insightful book by tracing the distinct paths to the legalization of recreational marijuana in the United States and other countries as well as discussing what the future of marijuana law holds.

The book is published by Temple University Press.

“Masterfully profiles decades of government propaganda that sought to misinform the American public about marijuana.” (John Hudak, PhD, senior fellow, The Brookings Institution)

“A useful primer for the long history of marijuana in the United States." (Emily Dufton, author of Grass Roots)