High Society
A sweeping history of cannabis from ancient spiritual rituals to Nixon's War on Drugs, exposing how a plant became a weapon of social control.
20th CenturyAddiction & Substance UseAmerican PoliticsCivil Rights & Social JusticeCultural HistoryPropaganda & Social Control
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Chapters
15 total- 01Prologue
- 02Chapter One - The First Blaze
- 03Chapter Two - Shiva and Smoke
- 04Chapter Three - The High Priests of History
- 05Chapter Four - Empires and Exports
- 06Chapter Five - Weed Gets to Work
- 07Chapter Six - Reefer and Resistance
- 08Chapter Seven - Panic at the Pot Plant
- 09Chapter Eight - War on Some People
- 10Chapter Nine - The Stoner Era
- 11Chapter Ten - Medical Miracles and Mirages
- 12Chapter Eleven - Legalize It, But Who Gets Paid?
- 13Chapter Twelve - The Modern Patchwork
- 14Chapter Thirteen - Beyond the Haze
- 15Chapter Fourteen - Smoke Signals
Edition notes and short pages
High Society
High Society
A History of the World’s Most Misunderstood Plant
by James Johnson
Dedication
For the ones who got locked up before it became cool.
And for the ones who lit up anyway.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
TO EVERYONE WHO told the truth when it was dangerous, questioned the script, remembered the roots, and passed it around.
To the cultures that never forgot where this plant came from.
And to the people still waiting for justice while others cash in.
You weren’t just part of the story.
You are the story.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
JJ IS THE author of over 300 books that peel back the surface of history, culture, power, and ideology. His work blends sharp research with irreverent clarity, helping readers see the systems they’re living in and the stories they’ve inherited.
Whether writing about empires, icons, conspiracies, or cartoons, his work always carries one thing: the truth, hidden in plain sight.
This is his first book about weed.
But not his first book about control.
COPYRIGHT
COPYRIGHT © 2025 JAMES Johnson. All rights reserved.
This book is a work of non-fiction and is protected under applicable copyright law. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means — electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise — without the express written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations used for review or scholarly purposes.
This book is not affiliated with or endorsed by any medical, legal, or governmental institution. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, the contents are intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered legal or medical advice.
Cannabis laws vary by jurisdiction and are subject to change. Readers are responsible for knowing and complying with the laws in their local area.
Use your head. Question your sources. Respect the plant.
And always pass it to the left.