Heart of Dankness
Underground Botanists, Outlaw Farmers, and the Race for the Cannabis Cup
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- $13.99
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- $13.99
Publisher Description
Moneyball meets the documentary "The Union: The Business Behind Getting High" in this non-fiction book that explores the culture of cannabis, from its humble beginnings as a textile fiber in 2727 BC, to its illegalization during the Great Depression, to its increasing use as medicinal treatment -- all culminating in the annual event for marijuana aficionados everywhere: the Cannabis Cup.
After spending three years researching his novel Baked, Mark Haskell Smith turns his focus on the one event that intrigued him in the fascinating world of the cannabis culture: the Cannabis Cup competition. What makes a strain of marijuana award-winning? he wonders. Who would risk everything to grow the good stuff? Is this really a nearly $100 billion a year industry? Alternating between California, the hub of the legalization and decriminalization debate, and Amsterdam, where the world's preeminent cannabis festival takes place each year, Mark discovers a compelling world where science meets agriculture, and hedonism toes the line of criminality.
Combining wit, curiosity, and frankness, Heart of Dankness reveals the world of underground botany and outlaw farming, where "strain hunters" risk fines, imprisonment, and reputation to develop amazing weed -- and, ultimately, battle for the coveted Cannabis Cup, and millions of dollars.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Novelist Smith (Baked) travels the multibillion-dollar world of high-end marijuana production from the sequoia groves of California to the cafes of Amsterdam. Smith's quest is to discover the essence of "dankness," that quality which differentiates the good buds from the great. Along the way, Smith meets growers, buyers and "bud tenders," and explores the murky legal status of the medical marijuana movement. Smith's journey ends at the 2010 Cannabis Cup, where sativa strains like "Chocolope" and "Sour Power" battle for supremacy. Smith is a good-natured guide and the narrative moves smoothly. However, his approach remains superficial and repetitive in both substance and style: Smith visits some marijuana hub, conducts interviews, tokes up, and moves on. It's a stoner's dream job, but Smith doesn't take us to the heart of anything. The strongest chapters detail a trip to hidden fields in the Sequoia National Park, but even there, Smith remains a tourist. Nevertheless, his is a pleasant guide to understanding the difference between indica and sativa.
