The Rise of Cannabis and the Decline in Civilization by Mitch Rubman

A gonzo-meets-ganja memoir told through the bloodshot but observant eyes of a devoted pothead, The Rise of Cannabis and the Decline in Civilization by Mitch Rubman is a brazen personal history of his drug of choice. From the author’s hazy adolescence in the 1970s to middle-aged smoke sessions after legalization, this four-decade-long perusal of journal entries and anecdotal confessions is a gritty commentary on marijuana culture, marked by the writer’s blunt, tangential, and sardonic style. Though the title might not initially suggest it, this is a true celebration of all things weed, which will be uniquely relatable for a growing number of readers, with Rubman demonstrating his impressive recall of drug-infused memories, from the grim banality of addiction to the ecstasy of a score.