Heart of Dankness: Underground Botanists, Outlaw Farmers, and the Race for the Cannabis Cup

Novelist Smith (Baked) travels the multibillion-dollar world of high-end marijuana production from the sequoia groves of California to the cafes of Amsterdam. Smith’s quest is to discover the essence of ”dankness,” that quality which differentiates the good buds from the great. Along the way, Smith meets growers, buyers and “bud tenders,” and explores the murky legal status of the medical marijuana movement. Smith’s journey ends at the 2010 Cannabis Cup, where sativa strains like “Chocolope” and “Sour Power” battle for supremacy. Smith is a good-natured guide and the narrative moves smoothly. However, his approach remains superficial and repetitive in both substance and style: Smith visits some marijuana hub, conducts interviews, tokes up, and moves on. It’s a stoner’s dream job, but Smith doesn’t take us to the heart of anything. The strongest chapters detail a trip to hidden fields in the Sequoia National Park, but even there, Smith remains a tourist. Nevertheless, his is a pleasant guide to understanding the difference between indica and sativa. (Apr.)