Cannabis themed books can be fun gifts

As cannabis becomes more mainstream in the West, more books on growing marijuana, cooking with marijuana, healing with marijuana and, even coloring perhaps under the influence of marijuana are available from mainstream booksellers. If you – or someone on your gift list – like the idea of further education or entertainment around this herb, consider giving a different kind of paper to cannabis fans. Many can be found on online for couch-locked shoppers, but feel free to call your local bookstore for their selection too. A quick trip to Auntie’s Bookstore and Barnes & Noble proved that there are books about bud topics in abundance. Auntie’s Bookstore has a variety of titles in their gardening and cooking sections. And of course, they are always happy to order any book. For gardeners in your life who either are just starting or already have a thriving collection of plants, there are plenty of suggestions, including: • Growing Marijuana: Idiot’s Guides by Kevin Oliver and Chadd McKeen DK | Penguin Random House publishes some of the most definitive guides in the country and this book is no exception. Filled with easy-to-read and attractively designed pages, this book touches on every aspect of cannabis from growing to harvesting to drying along with history of cannabis and plant anatomy. Oliver, a commercial cultivator and owner of Washington’s Finest Cannabis in Spokane, was taught his cultivation methods by what he refers to as “old school” medical marijuana growers. When an editor at DK books reached out to him to suggest a writer for a book on growing marijuana, he felt compelled to take on the challenge. Because of his own time constraints and a looming deadline, Chadd McKeen stepped up to help write some of the chapters. Oliver said people interested in getting started should learn two things first.“First, know the law. Second, marijuana is a hardy plant which, like most plants, under proper conditions can grow just fine.” • Marijuana Horticulture: The Indoor/Outdoor Medical Grower’s Bible by Jorge Cervantes This definitive guide is in its fifth updated edition and includes more than 1,100 photographs and illustrations. It covers everything from greenhouse growing to oil making, plus a medical section. • Marijuana Grower’s Handbook: Your Complete Guide for Medical and Personal Marijuana Cultivation by Ed Rosenthal This book is written by one of the columnists for High Times Magazine in the early 1980s and 1990s. He has been a marijuana advocate for decades and this book offers an overview on plants in general (remember photosynthesis in your biology class in high school?) and then moves into planting, growing and harvesting. This book should be on every grower’s bookshelf. • What’s wrong with my Marijuana Plant?: A Cannabis Grower’s Visual Guide to Easy Diagnosis and Organic Remedies, by David Deardorff and Kathryn Wadsworth. The authors cover everything from how to care for a sick plant to managing the temperature of the plants and how to properly prune them. With lots of pictures, it takes readers through step-by-step instructions on identifying a wide variety of problems with plants. If you prefer experimenting in the kitchen instead of the garden, enjoy selections that cover cooking topics from vegan options to gourmet fare. • The Cannabis Cookbook: Over 35 Tasty Recipes for Meals, Munchies, and More by Tim Pilcher Readers learn the science behind cooking with cannabis along with some easy-to make recipes including Hemp Seed Soup and several delicious baked goods to share at the holidays. Drinks and cocktails included in this as well. • Weed, The User’s Guide, A 21st Century Handbook for Enjoying Marijuana by David Schmader. This is likely the book for the reader in your family who loves historical information, etiquette and easy-to-follow recipes that include cannabis. Schmader is witty, entertaining and does a great job of pulling the reader in. • Cannabis Cookbook: A complete marijuana cookbook to prepare the best cannabis recipes and cannabis extracts by Gary Keller This cookbook takes the reader from breakfast through dessert, with memorable and easy-to-read dishes including breakfast burritos, weed ramen noodles and Oreo weed brownies (a classic!). There is something for every palate from vegetarian to hearty meat eaters. It’s a great starter cookbook for those who want to explore their culinary craft with a new ingredient. Finally, what could be better for your mental health than grabbing a coloring book and a few coloring pens or crayon? If you just want to kick back, enjoy the evening and get creative, both of these books provide some great artwork: • The Stoner’s Coloring Book: Coloring for High-Minded Adults by Jared Hoffman • Stoners, the coloring book by Mario Araujo It is no longer a matter of choosing a book on cannabis from a selection of one or two dozen. There are ow hundreds of books on the topic and the range is astonishing. It is easy to curate a collection of books for almost every adult in your circle who is dabbling in marijuana use whether for recreational or medicinal purposes.