Marijuana

(Paperback)

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The leading clinical expert on marijuana sifts through the myths about the drug to deliver an unbiased, comprehensive guide backed by scientific facts to give you the information you need to make informed decisions about marijuana.

Marijuana--or weed, pot, grass, MJ, Mary Jane, reefer, cannabis, or hemp among dozens of other names--has a long, colorful history dating back more than 2,000 years as the one of the most sought-after mood-altering substances in the world. Societal opinion about the drug has dramatically swayed over the years, from viewing it as a grave danger to society in the 1930s film Reefer Madness, to a harmless recreational high in the 60s, to an addictive substance and gateway to such hard drugs as heroin today. The myths and misinformation about marijuana have only multiplied over the years as the controversy over legalization and medical marijuana grows.

A nationally recognized clinical expert and leading researcher on marijuana, Kevin P. Hill provides a comprehensive guide to understanding the drug in Marijuana: The Unbiased Truth about the Worlds Most Popular Weed. Through research-based historical, scientific, and medical information, Hill will help you sort through what you hear on the streets and in the media and cut straight to the facts. Whether youre a parent concerned about your childs use, someone with an illness considering medical marijuana as a treatment option, a user who has questions about its effect on your health, or if youre just trying to make up your mind about legalization, this book will give you the most current and unbiased information you need to make informed decisions about marijuana.

Reviews

"It's delightful to see such a thorough, accessible review of such a diverse literature, even from an accomplished author who doesn't view the research the way that I do. It reminds us that reasonable people can differ and still stay reasonable. Check out this text for the latest on this controversial topic."
--Mitch Earleywine, PhD, Professor and Director of Clinical Training, University at Albany, SUNY, author of Understanding Marijuana (Oxford University Press), Chair of the Executive Board of NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws)
"The risks of marijuana use are widely debated and disagreed about--from questions of addiction and withdrawal, to effectiveness in treating various medical problems, to degrees of harmfulness and lasting deleterious changes....What has been missing is a balanced approach to all of these issues--an approach present in this volume by Dr. Kevin P. Hill. The book covers a wide range of topics in a thoughtful and comprehensive manner. Both pro- and anti-marijuana individuals will find material that agrees with their positions--and challenges them.It can be usefully read and consulted by health professionals, policy makers, law enforcement, parents, teachers, and students."
--Herbert D. Kleber, MD, Director, Division on Substance Abuse, New York State Psychiatric Institute
"Bravo to Dr. Hill for taking on the task of explaining in detail the scientific and clinical information related to the controversial aspects of marijuana use, addiction, and legalization. He brings his personal, professional, and scientific knowledge to the table in an effort to provide readers with much more than a cursory overview of the issues. Novice readers will come away with broad knowledge of the field, and those who have already formed opinions will be forced to rethink their positions...
--Alan J. Budney, PhD, professor of psychiatry at the Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth
A very valuable resource for those who want to understand this problem and move beyond rhetoric to reality. NY Journal of Books"

Author Bio

Kevin P. Hill, MD, MHS, is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Harvards McLean Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts, and an addiction consultant with a number of professional sports organizations. His marijuana research is funded by the NIH, the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation, and the American Lung Association. In 2013 he was awarded the Alfred Pope Award for Best Research Paper by a Young Investigator at McLean Hospital, and he has authored or coauthored articles in more than thirty peer-reviewed scientific publications.