New Books in Popular Culture Bradley J. Borougerdi, "Cannabis: A Global History" (Reaktion, 2025)
Dec 4, 2025
Bradley Borougerdi, a historian and professor, shares insights from his latest book, which examines cannabis's rich global history. He traces the plant's origins in Southeast Asia, revealing its evolution from food source to multifaceted cultural icon. The conversation covers cannabis's ancient uses, the complexities of defining it, and its significant roles in medicine and recreation. Borougerdi also discusses the modern paradox of legalization amid ongoing prohibition, along with cultural culinary reinventions and the legend of Alice B. Toklas's infamous hashish fudge.
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Academic Work Made Accessible
- Bradley J. Borougerdi wrote Cannabis to bridge academic rigor and a wider audience.
- He deliberately condensed complex research into a readable, illustrated global history for non-specialists.
Hemp In The American Revolution
- In research Bradley found American revolutionaries sought hemp for naval stores and imported quality hemp from Russia.
- That discovery shifted his focus from Russian history into the global history of cannabis and hemp.
Three Functional Faces Of Cannabis
- Cannabis functions as industrial, medical, and recreational plant categories that overlap historically.
- This multipurpose nature explains confusion in nomenclature and public perception.
