Man and Marijuana: Some Aspects of Their Relationship

South Brunswick, New York: Perpetua Books - A. S. Barnes and Company, 1973. Stated at copyright: "Perpetua Edition, 1973". Pictorial wraps, light shelf, corner wear. Pages near fine, no writing. Bind fine, square. White wraps feature stylized illustration of tall green marijuana plants at front panel; back panel features portrait of author and biographical summary. Stated 'Second Large Printing' at front flap. Solid rarity in very good wrapper. Examines in some detail the history of cannabis sative and hemp from around the world, and its uses as fiber source, food, oil, medicine, an entheogen, its origins, classification, etc. An insightful, honest book. Marijuana is a Spanish-American epithet for the hemp plant and for a euphoric preparation of its dried leaves and flowers that is smoked for intoxication. Hemp, the common plant name for Cannabis Sativa, has obviously been around for a long time and has spread far and wide. For centuries hemp has been shrouded largely in myth, varying from absurd adulation to zealous condemnation. The swell of interest and use of this controversial plant has been reflected in a rash of books. One engimatic aspect - the diffused history of man's use of it - has been overlooked. Mr. Merlin's study is directed at this. Where did early man use it? How did its many uses spread? An understanding of the plant's ecology is essential. Thus the first section describes botanical aspects and includes its adaptation to climate, soil, topography, and other organisms. Based on anthropological information, the second section is a formulation of theory on man's earliest use and its dispersal. The author proposes that Cannabis sativa's ability to adapt and thrive in micro-environments created by and near man, and its potential for use as medicine, oil, food, fiber, and a hallucinogen, suggest an early and conscious relationship. In the final section, Merlin traces the spread of hemp from a hearth area in central Asia to ancient China, India, Europe, and southwest Asia. Details of its diffusion have been marshalled from the academic disciplines of archaeology, history, anthropology, geography, botany, ecology, linguistics, and comparative mythology. Thoroughly researched and documented, this study is a credit to the rich history of this plant. Is Cannabis sativa a benefit or a curse for man? This judgment cannot be passed until it is grasped how, when, why, and with what effects it was used throughout history. Includes a detailed bibliography and index. Printed in the United States of America. 120 pages. Insured post.. First Edition. Soft Cover. Very Good. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Book.