Book excerpt: In 2000, Hamid (anthropology, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, New York) made additions and revisions to his 1980s doctoral dissertation for Columbia University. He examines the plant cannabis, or marijuana, its 5,000-year-use as a magical herb, its use specifically among Caribbeans at home and in New York City and the economics of that use, and social science perspectives on claims made about it by both supporters and opponents. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR.