Five New Cannabis Books Released in 2024

1. Green Scenes: A Guide to Legal Cannabis Destinations and Experiences Across the US by Lauren Yoshiko

"The first-ever travel guide to cool, ethically-operated legal cannabis destinations across the US."

Across 15 states, 24 cities with legalized cannabis, "this guide comprises 120 of the most interesting dispensaries, hemp-friendly spaces, and cannabis consumption-welcoming experiences and lodging in the country." Most, if not all, are locally owned creative businesses aiming to contribute to the growing cannabis industry. The guide also features a Q&A with cannabis entrepreneurs who helped make these types of businesses possible. 

Available at Bookshop

2. Medical Cannabis: The Beginner's Handbook by Mr. John C. Scott

Written by an experienced pharmacist, John C. Scott's comprehensive guide is an up-to-date guide on medical cannabis. He includes everything from methods of administration, how to find the optimum dosage and when to take breaks, evidence based information on treating various conditions such as anxiety and epilepsy, what to look for when buying medical cannabis and CBD, and possible side effects. His guide is an essential tool as medical cannabis continues to be utilized across the country, allowing readers to make informed decisions on how cannabis can positively affect their lives. 

Available Here

3. Cannabis vs. Marijuana: Language, Landscape and Context by David Paleschuck

”A trailblazing work at a crucial juncture. This book sparks the essential dialogue needed to reshape our language, challenge stereotypes, and build a more inclusive and informed future for cannabis."
― Dale Sky Jones, Executive Chancellor of Oaksterdam University

David Paleschuck examines the role terminalogy plays in the rapidly evolving cannabis indudstry, and his book serves as a guide for for policymakers, researchers, industry professionals, advocates, and consumers, who want to participate in the discussion in a constructive way. The influence of language on society can be changed with the right terminology, something critical with cannabis. He delves into the history, culture, legilsation, and more, and how the ongoing dialogue needs to shift from past perceptions and myths to a more grounded understanding where all members of society is all on the same page in the conversation on cannabis. 

Available Here

4. Craft Weed, with a new preface by the author: Family Farming and the Future of the Marijuana Industry Paperback by Ryan Stoa

"As the era of marijuana prohibition comes to an end, now is the time to think about what kind of marijuana industry and marijuana agriculture we want. Craft Weed will help us plan for a future that is almost here."

Featuring interviews with veteran and novice marijuana growers, politicians, activists, and investors, Ryan Stoa proposes that the future of the cannabis industry should be led by sustainable, local farms, and how that type of model (already found in the wine industry) is perhaps one of the best options for the future of cannabis. He explores the history of cannabis farming, the legalization process, regulatory efforts, the differences between indoor and outdoor cultivation, and the environmental effects. With his extensive research, he proposes the many benefits of marijuana farming and the positive impact it can have on many areas of the country. 

Available at Bookshop

5. Rocky Mountain High Priestess: One Woman’s Courageous Healing Journey Fighting Cancer With Cannabis: A True Story by Kelly Doering

In her short and concise memior, Kelly Doering's courageous and vulnerable story is how she fled to the Colorado Rocky Mountain's to fight her cancer after questioning Western Medicine. There, she found solace and healing as she faced her illness. Her story is a testament to the power of cannabis as an alternative medicine. 

Available at Bookshop

8 Universities Offering Degrees in Psychedelics

1. Certificate in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies | Naropa University

Type: Certificate
For: Professionals in Counseling, Psychology, Medicine, Social Work
Duration: 8 Months

Providing postgraduate level training. the program is taught by distinguished Naropa faculty and leading experts in the field, where students "receive an in-depth education in essential aspects of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy, trauma-informed care, and spiritual integration." With a focus on the practice of psychedelic-assisted therapy such as ketamine, psilocybin, and ceremonial plant medicine, participants develop skills in mindfulness practices essential for psychedelic therapy. A hybrid of online and "intensive retreat-based learning that is deeply rooted in ethics, psychedelic justice, and respect for the Indigenous roots of entheogenic medicine."

The program begins with a five-day opening retreat held in Boulder, Colorado, which focuses on community building, including lectures by leaders and experts in the psychedelic field. Further along in the program, an apprenticeship retreat is held where participants have the opportunity to engage in either conducting Ketamine Assisted Therapy or Holotropic Breathwork, to gain firsthand experience in these types of therapy modalities.  

With psilocybin and ketamine therapy already legal in Oregon and Colorado, Naropa University's program meets the training standards for such modalities. Their program is an Approved Training Program for Oregon Psilocybin Services (OPS) facilitator training per Measure 109. Many alumni are practicing ketamine assisted therapy, clinical research, and other areas of the expanding psychedelic field. 

More Information Available Here

2. The NYU Langone Psychedelic Medicine Research Training Program

Type: Mentorship
For: Junior Scientists, Postdoctoral Researchers
Duration: 5 Years

A unique program that aims to sustain the psychedelic field and research, NYU provides support, training, mentorship, and research funding for scientists and researchers who are building independent careers with psychedelics. The program offers a partial-to-full salary and benefits for participants for up to five years, with support for a mentored research project. The first year is dedicated to "identifying a primary mentor, developing and presenting a research project proposal, and initiating study startup activities." The remaining four years include data collection and analysis, with career career development activities. Participants are also required to attend weekly seminars and scientific conferences, as they develop careers in research on psychedelic-inspired treatment.

More Information Available Here

3. Certificate in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies & Research | California Integral Studies

Type: Certificate
For: Licensed Medical and Mental Health Professionals, Counseling Attorneys, Ordained Clergy and Chaplains
Duration: 8 Months

With CIIS holding a high reputation for psychedelic studies, their program is advanced training for therapists and researchers, focusing on psychedelic therapy with the philosophy and theories within the field. Participants will have the opportunity to work with the top psychedelic researchers and therapists internationally, develop critical skills with research protocols and integration practices, and be mentored by experts in psychedelic psychotherapies. 

The program also offers support for participants on their own personal journey of well-being with a supportive community of fellow students and alumni. The program aims to nurture their own inner healing modalities that can ultimately be shared in future therapy practices. This holistic approach builds a better understanding of the inner impact psychedelics can have on individuals, moving beyond intellectualizing the knowledge on the subject of psychedelics and plant medicine. 

The curriculum includes current trends in psychedelic therapy such as regulatory processes, studies on consciousness and ceremonial settings, research for minorites and diverse populations, and research on guiding and being guided in expanded states of consciousness. 

In each of their many programs, CIIS combines Eastern, Western, and Indigenous spiritual and intellectual traditions in their coursework and research. 

More Information Available Here

4. Psychedelic Facilitation Certificate Program | UC Berkeley

Type: Certificate 
Duration: 9 Months

The program emphasizes psilocybin, MDMA, and ketamine and their applications for spiritual and psychotherapeutic care, including both traditional uses and current Western approaches to mental health. The certificate is approved as a Psilocybin Facilitator Training Program through the Oregon Health Authority and the Higher Education Coordinating Commission.

The program is comprehensive in all aspects of psychedelic therapy including appreciation for the indigenous cultures, the necessity of diversity and inclusion, current science research, somatic awareness, and more. Their goal is to be as in-depth as possible, so participants have the necessary well-rounded education as the psychedelic field expands in numerous areas of mental health, social work, medicine, among others. 

The program is a comprehensive preparation for psychedelic facilitators across many different careers and fields. 

More Information Available Here

5. Psychoactive Pharmaceutical Investigation, MS | University of Wisconsin-Madison

Type: Online
For: Graduates pursuing roles of Researcher, Technician, Scientist, or similar
Duration: 1-3 Years

The program combines chemistry and culture; equity and ethnobotany; and phenomenology and pharmacokinetics, resulting in "knowledge and skills needed to succeed when working within the complex scientific, regulatory, and societal frameworks surrounding the application of psychoactive pharmaceuticals." Participants will have an understanding of drug development, laws and regulations with ethical practices, and current challenges and newly discovered success within the psychedelic and cannabinoid field. They'll gain an understanding of the legal structures of controlled substances, and how psychedelics and cannabis play a role in both society and science. Additionally, participants will study the chemical affects and biological activity of the central nervous system with the role pharmaceuticals plays in those physiological changes. 

The program in Psychoactive Pharmaceutical Investigation is the first accredited degree option for those interested in advanced study of psychedelic science. 

More Information Available Here

6. Psychedelic-assisted Therapy Graduate Certificate Program | Vancouver Island

Type: Online
For: practitioners, including traditional healers, therapists, spiritual care providers, physicians, nurses, somatic energy practitioners, and other clinician allies
Duration: 1 Year

The program's goal is to supply participants with vital knowledge and skills to conduct and participate Psychedelic Assisted Therapy with trauma informed care, professional practice, and direct experience with skilled supervision. The program combines theoretical concepts with the therapy itself, allowing participants to obtain a well-rounded education on how to succeed in the field.

More Information Available Here

7. Psychedelic Therapy Training Program | Columbia School of Social Work

Type: In-Person
For: Students Admitted to Columbia's School of Scientific Social Work
Duration: 1 Year

This in-degree certification program is a full training program to prepare partipants with Ketamine Assisted Therapy, and potentially therapy with MDMA and psilcybin. The program involves 120 classroom hours of psychedelic curriculum and 600 hours of direct practice. A high priority is focusing on social justice and the importance of making psychedelic assisted therapy to minorities and communities who need it the most. 

More Information Available Here

8. PGCert Psychedelics: Mind, Medicine, and Culture | Exeter University 

Type: Online
For: Graduates with a 2:1 or above in their first degree in any subject
Duration: 1 Year

With the university having a global reputation as leaders in psychedelic healthcare, their program is  the UK's first academically certified program in the psychedelics field, designed for not only therapists and counselers interested in psychedelic therapy, but also those who are interested in psychedelic research and want to continue their studies in the field. 

The modules include both theoretical and and practicical sides of psychedelic therapy, and how therapies including ketamine and 5-MeO-DMT is developed and conducted. Studies involve the history and recent achiemvents with this type of modality, and also the role metaphysics plays in psychedelic therapy. In addition to studying the neuroscience behind psychedelic substances, the program also offers studies with culteral ethics such as "decolonization, laws, patents, ecology, feminism, notions of cognitive liberty, stigma, nihilism, alienation," and more. 

The program is taught by world-leading experts in the psychedelic field with backgrounds in treatment for addiction, neurology, trauma, and sociology. 

What makes the program unique is that it's open to graduates from all backgrounds, making it accessible for those who may not have experience or experience in any type of psychedelic-related career. 

More Information Available Here

Butler's DMT Field Guide: A Brief History, Step-by-Step Recipes, and Personal Experiences From a DMT Saturated Consciousness

Adam D. Butler's DMT Field Guide is a straightforward and candid introduction to DMT. His intention is to spread the message on the power DMT can have on shifting one's life; he himself went from a from a safe and successful early life, and then found himself struggling with mental illness, loss of dream jobs he had obtained, homelessness, and ultimately suicidal thoughts. Instead of treating his struggles with prescription pills, he sought to find the root of the problem, something he found with DMT.

In addition to his own personal story, he covers many different aspects of DMT: what a session feels like and how to prepare for it, the impact DMT can have on sex, art, and science, a recipe guide on how to make different versions of DMT such as tea or crystal, and why we must continue to have a dialogue on psychedelic medicine and the impact they can have in potentially saving those who are struggling. Readers will come to a better understanding on why it's deemed both the "Miracle Molecule" and "Spiritual Molecule," as Butler describes what DMT feels like and the powerful shift it had on his psyche. 

Perhaps no other book provides non-explicit descriptions (or descriptions at all) of the act of sex while smoking DMT and how it expands awareness of both our own body and the body of the person we're making love to. From our sexual lives to the creation of different types of art, Butler illustrates how DMT can have a beautiful impact on the world in many different ways. 

His book serves as a friendly guide on how to navigate the journey to and with Dimethyltryptamine. He offers suggestions, urges cautions, and provides insightful key points on the DMT experience. His message is to spread knowledge on the power of psychedelics, including making them more accessible in our culture, which is realizing more and more how traditional treatments of illness and mental health struggles aren't found in prescription pills. With a substance found in our own bodies, Butler reminds us that DMT is one of the most natural, and perhaps best option, for people seeking to better their lives, ultimately leading to a better world.

Available At Bookshop

 

Breaking Emotional Addiction: Neurohacking Borderline Personality Disorder with Ibogaine

Blended together with intimate journal entries, descriptions of the ibogaine trip itself, and an honest narration, author E.O.J. shares how she overcame her emotional, life-crippling struggles with Borderline Personality Disorder, or more specifically, the repercussions of abuse and trauma stemming from her childhood. 

She tried all the traditional tools and therapies such as DBT therapy, but few managed to have the impact and change in battling her rage and other emotional dysregulations. She disarms the traditional views and stereotypes of mental health and voices her own, framed in a way that made most sense for her, and perhaps can help others as well. With many people sharing their own experiences with other plant medicines like psilocybin and Ayahuasca, few discuss ibogaine, making her story even more relevant as plant medicines continues to expand in the mental health field. 

With ibogaine often used to treat opioid addiction, E.O.J.'s story is an example of how other forms of addiction and mental struggles need to be included in the expanding usage of psychedelic and plant medicines in our culture. Her story of conquering her struggles gives insight on what's needed to heal from childhood trauma and how ibogaine is one of the many psychedelic options to help with unprocessed pain and emotions. 

Available Here

Queering Psychedelics: From Oppression to Liberation in Psychedelic Medicine

Queering Psychedelics: From Oppression to Liberation in Psychedelic Medicine, edited by Alex Belser, Clancy Cavnar, and Beatriz Caiuby Labate, is a collection of essays from around the globe, providing valuable insight on not just the intertwining history of the LGBTQ+ community and psychedelics, but also the modern day issues marginalized groups face when trying to become involved with psychedelics.

With over 40 essays that can be read in any order, ranging from vulnerable, personal stories to insightful interviews, Queering Psychedelics features topics from gender and identity, conversion therapy, homophobia, addiction, privilege, sexuality and kink play, and plenty more. Some essays featured have never before been published in English, with some chapters being "the first published queer case study in a legal psychedelic clinical trial."

In many ways, Queering Psychedelics is a landmark book and serves as a valuable tool for anyone and everyone in creating a safer space in the expanding psychedelic community and movement. The collection explores the history of when psychedelics were used in conversion therapy, how psychedelic therapy today can be more queer inclusive, how transgender and other gender-diverse individuals have benefited from psychedelic medicine, the role ayahuasca plays in gender and sexuality within indigenous cultures, and much more. There's many different perspectives and insights throughout the book that can influence the way our culture handles psychedelic medicine moving forward, while also providing  insight to modern day issues the LGBTQ+ community is still facing that aren't much discussed in mainstream media.

Certain essays also address specific traumas that are common within the LGBTQ+ community, including various childhood traumas and complex-PTSD. It should be worth noting that complex-PTSD is still rarely discussed today and is very slowly gaining more exposure, so Queering Psychedelics is not just a trauma-informed book, but also perhaps the first book within the psychedelic and LGBTQ+ libraries that address this critical mental health diagnosis. 

There's something for anyone in Queering Psychedelics, whether you're a part of the LGBTQ+ community or an ally, involved in the psychedelic movement, or someone just curious about the subject itself. While psychedelics have dark moments in history, we can't lose sight of the power they hold today in creating a more safe, more healed, more inclusive environment, for everyone.

Available At Bookshop