New Books Network Bradley J. Borougerdi, "Cannabis: A Global History" (Reaktion, 2025)
Dec 4, 2025
Bradley J. Borougerdi, a historian and professor specializing in cannabis history, shares insights from his latest book. He explores cannabis's origins as a food source in Southeast Asia and its evolution across continents. The conversation dives into its various uses—from industrial hemp to modern edibles—and addresses public misconceptions about terminology. Borougerdi also investigates the plant's historical stigmatization and the cultural impact of icons like the cannabis brownie, revealing a rich tapestry of cannabis's global narrative.
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Bridging Academic And Popular Audiences
- Bradley Borougerdi wrote Cannabis to bridge academic research and a broader audience.
- He condensed complex scholarship into an accessible, illustrated 25,000-word book for general readers.
A Dissertation Sparked By Hemp In Archives
- Borougerdi first encountered cannabis in diplomatic archives while researching the American Revolution.
- References to hemp in those documents launched his long study of the plant's industrial and imperial roles.
Cannabis As A Multipurpose Plant
- Cannabis functions as an industrial, medical, and recreational plant depending on variety and use.
- That multipurpose nature explains widespread human adoption and persistent confusion about the plant.
