Synopses & Reviews
Marijuana has been illegal in the United States since 1937. Yet, thanks in large part to a loosely connected underground world of breeders, dealers, and smokers, there are currently more than 2000 varieties available. And since 1996, when California first passed legislation allowing for legalized medical marijuana, the underground has slowly surfaced, pushing what was once a decentralized, lawless world closer to the corporate world of business, agriculture, and pharmaceuticals.
Super-Charged gets up close and personal with the people who have transformed this controversial drug. With personalities and backgrounds as diverse as the plant itself, the growers include a former Silicon Valley software entrepreneur; third-generation Humboldt, California, growers; a publicly traded pharmaceutical company; and the famous marijuana personality Jorge Cervantes. Jim Rendon takes readers behind the scenes and into the homes and grow operations of the committed, quality-obsessed practitioners in the international underground industry responsible for creating today's super-charged cannabis.
Ironically, these pioneers who built this illegal industry may one day find themselves out of business in the face of the drug's growing mainstream acceptance. Just how this could come about is part of the incredible story.
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"An in-depth, balanced look at the state of pot cultivation and consumption in America today...
Review
Readers looking for a good overview on marijuana cultivation, its potential for commercialization by pharmaceutical companies, and legalization options will find this volume helpful. Using extensive interviews with breeders and growers, freelance writer Rendon examines how the underground, unregulated cannabis-growing movement helped to make the industry and the product what it is today. He goes into some detail on the differences in strains and potencies as well as how the medical and illegal markets overlap, impact one another, and co-evolve. One of this book's strengths is its attention to the dedication and care growers take as they work to provide a quality, healthy product for their medical customers. VERDICT Though not nearly as comprehensive as Caulkins's
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"For someone who has never really been a part of the cannabis scene, he does a great job immersing himself in our world...by offering a broad perspective on everything from genetics to politics." Denver Westword Blog
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"This book is not an argument for or against the legalization of marijuana. It is a discussion of how the criminalization of marijuana has altered its genetics and its place in American culture." East Oregonian
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"A definitive overview of an important and fascinating plant undergoing a politically charged transition, and a great read." Garden Rant
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"An in-depth, balanced look at the state of pot cultivation and consumption in America today...
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"Science lovers who'd love to read something a little different will love Super-Charged by Jim Rendon." Allied News
About the Author
Jim Rendon is a freelance writer who covers business, science, design, and the environment. His work has appeared in The New York Times and The New York Times Magazine, Mother Jones, Fortune, Men's Journal, and other publications. He is a former staff writer for SmartMoney magazine. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.