It's a full treatment, going from demented right-wing scientists to the THC-tastic physiological and psychological effects of the smoke.

The schizophrenic attitude of big business to the prospect of legalisation is also exposed: funding of anti-drug organisations in America by tobacco and alcohol companies, whilst Imperial Tobacco buy Rizla (who, of course, make king skins for long distance lorry drivers who...etc, etc).

The academic chapters are tempered by amusing stories of Matthews' figurative and literal trips around the hash globe, from Amsterdam to India. In fact, one of the funniest parts is in the impoverished hash-producing region of Morocco, where the noble scribe feels obliged to take a toke after years of abstinence, with predictable consequences.

But what is encouraging are the underground British collectives and individuals who support decriminalising weed in this country. The Luton-based Exodus collective are an articulate group who love their weed so much they actively campaign against the use of hard drugs in their community, in favour of spliff consumption. A positive drug story, you don't get many of them to the nine-bar.

If you're remotely interested in what you're smoking Cannabis Culture can point you towards its probable origins, cultural and horticultural. And it'll make you think about the politics of your spliff, if only during first of the night.

Get the blow low-down in the Clinic

— Dan Crimes 09.08.00