The resources on this page have been selected because they are educational, well-sourced, and aligned with our mission of providing honest, balanced information about cannabis. We have no commercial relationships with any of the authors, publishers, or organizations listed here.
Books
Cannabis Pharmacy: The Practical Guide to Medical Marijuana
Author: Michael Backes • Updated Edition: 2017
Widely considered the most comprehensive consumer reference on medical cannabis. Backes covers the science of cannabinoids and terpenes, condition-by-condition treatment guidance, dosing strategies, and product selection — all in accessible language backed by cited research. The book includes profiles of over 50 cannabis varieties with their cannabinoid and terpene compositions. An excellent desktop reference for anyone using cannabis therapeutically.
Best for: Patients who want a single comprehensive reference covering science, conditions, and practical guidance.
The Doctor-Approved Cannabis Handbook
Author: Dr. Benjamin Caplan • Year: 2023
Written by a physician who has treated thousands of cannabis patients, this book bridges the gap between clinical medicine and patient self-education. Dr. Caplan covers how to talk to your doctor about cannabis, how to interpret research, dosing fundamentals, and how to navigate the medical cannabis system. The tone is measured and evidence-based, acknowledging both potential benefits and genuine risks.
Best for: Patients who want physician-guided perspective on integrating cannabis with conventional healthcare.
CBD: A Patient's Guide to Medicinal Cannabis
Authors: Leonard Leinow & Juliana Birnbaum • Updated Edition: 2017
A focused guide specifically on CBD and its therapeutic applications. Covers the science of CBD, dosing guidelines (including specific protocols for various conditions), and guidance on product quality and selection. Includes contributions from physicians and researchers. Particularly useful for people who want to explore cannabis therapeutics without psychoactive effects, or who are interested in CBD as a starting point before considering THC-containing products.
Best for: Beginners interested in CBD specifically, or anyone looking for non-psychoactive options.
Smoke Signals: A Social History of Marijuana
Author: Martin A. Lee • Year: 2012
The definitive cultural and political history of cannabis in America. Lee traces the plant from its ancient origins through its criminalization, the war on drugs, and the modern legalization movement. While this is not a medical guide, understanding the political history of cannabis is essential context for understanding the evidence gap and why research has been so restricted. Well-researched, engaging, and eye-opening.
Best for: Anyone who wants to understand why cannabis policy is the way it is and how we got here.
The Cannabis Manifesto
Author: Steve DeAngelo • Year: 2015
Written by one of the pioneers of the legal cannabis industry, this book makes the case for cannabis as a wellness tool. DeAngelo draws on decades of experience in the cannabis space to discuss responsible use, the endocannabinoid system, and the plant's therapeutic potential. Note that this book leans toward advocacy and should be balanced with more clinically cautious sources. It is particularly strong on the practical realities of cannabis culture and the legal market.
Best for: Readers interested in the philosophy and practice of cannabis wellness from an industry insider's perspective.
Websites
Leafly — Cannabis 101
One of the largest cannabis information platforms in the world. Their Cannabis 101 education section provides well-organized guides on cannabis science, strains, consumption methods, and legal information. Leafly also operates as a dispensary directory and product review platform. Their educational content is generally reliable, though readers should be aware that Leafly has commercial relationships with cannabis businesses, which may influence product-related content.
Perspective: Industry-affiliated platform with strong educational content. Best for general education and product information.
Project CBD
A nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting and publicizing research into the medical uses of cannabidiol (CBD) and other cannabis compounds. Project CBD maintains one of the most comprehensive libraries of cannabis research summaries available online, translating complex scientific papers into plain language. They also publish original reporting on emerging research, policy developments, and clinical practice. Their content is science-forward and generally well-sourced.
Perspective: Nonprofit with a pro-cannabis research orientation. Best for in-depth science coverage and research summaries.
Society of Cannabis Clinicians
A professional organization for physicians and healthcare providers who specialize in cannabinoid medicine. Their website provides educational materials reflecting the clinical perspective — how doctors actually work with cannabis patients, current treatment protocols, and the medical community's evolving understanding of cannabinoid therapeutics. Also useful for finding cannabis-knowledgeable physicians in your area.
Perspective: Medical professional organization. Best for understanding the clinical approach to cannabis medicine.
Leaf411
A nonprofit providing a free hotline staffed by registered nurses who have been specifically trained in cannabis therapeutics. If you have questions about dosing, drug interactions, consumption methods, or how to talk to your doctor about cannabis, Leaf411 provides personalized, evidence-informed guidance from licensed healthcare professionals. This is one of the most practical and underused resources in the cannabis education space — a real human nurse who can answer your specific questions.
Perspective: Nonprofit nurse-staffed hotline. Best for getting personalized answers to specific cannabis questions from a healthcare professional.
Americans for Safe Access (ASA)
The largest national member-based organization of patients, medical professionals, scientists, and concerned citizens promoting safe and legal access to cannabis for therapeutic use. ASA provides educational resources on state-by-state legal information, patient rights, quality standards, and policy developments. They are explicitly an advocacy organization, which means they have a position on cannabis policy, but their factual information and legal resources are well-maintained.
Perspective: Patient advocacy organization. Best for legal information, patient rights, and policy updates.
NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws)
One of the oldest and most established cannabis advocacy organizations in the United States. NORML maintains a comprehensive library of state-by-state legal information, research news, and policy analysis. They are an advocacy organization that supports cannabis legalization, so their content reflects that position. Their factual reporting on legal developments and research statistics (including the annual publication count data we cite on this site) is generally reliable.
Perspective: Policy reform advocacy organization. Best for legal information, research statistics, and policy developments.
Podcasts
Cannabis Therapy Potcast
Hosted by cannabis nurse educator Dr. Eloise Theisen, this podcast focuses specifically on the therapeutic applications of cannabis. Episodes feature interviews with researchers, clinicians, and patients, covering topics from dosing strategies to condition-specific treatment approaches. The clinical perspective makes it particularly useful for patients who want to go deeper on the medical side of cannabis.
Best for: Patients seeking medically oriented cannabis education from healthcare professionals.
Shaping Fire
Hosted by Shango Los, Shaping Fire is a long-running cannabis science podcast that features in-depth conversations with researchers, cultivators, and industry experts. The show dives deep into cannabis science topics including terpene research, cultivation techniques, extraction methods, and emerging cannabinoid research. Episodes are well-produced and informative, though they occasionally assume some baseline cannabis knowledge.
Best for: Listeners who want to go deep on cannabis science and are comfortable with more technical content.
The Cannabis Conversation
A UK-based podcast that explores cannabis research and policy from a global perspective. Featuring interviews with scientists, physicians, and policymakers from around the world, the show provides valuable context on how other countries approach cannabis medicine and research — particularly useful given that countries like Canada, Israel, and the Netherlands have invested more heavily in cannabis research than the United States.
Best for: Listeners interested in international perspectives on cannabis science and policy.
Documentaries
Weed (CNN, Dr. Sanjay Gupta Series)
Director: Sanjay Gupta • Year: 2013-2018 (multiple installments)
CNN's chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta produced this multi-part documentary series that was credited with significantly shifting American public opinion on medical cannabis. The first installment notably featured Charlotte Figi, a young girl with severe epilepsy whose story helped catalyze the CBD movement. Dr. Gupta publicly reversed his previous opposition to medical cannabis after conducting research for the series. While the early installments are dated in some specifics, the series remains an excellent introduction to why medical cannabis became a mainstream conversation.
Best for: Newcomers looking for an accessible, credible introduction to the medical cannabis story.
The Scientist
Director: Zach Klein • Year: 2015
A documentary following Dr. Raphael Mechoulam, the Israeli chemist who first isolated THC in 1964 and is widely regarded as the father of cannabis research. The film traces Mechoulam's decades-long career and the discoveries that led to our understanding of the endocannabinoid system. It provides essential historical context for anyone who wants to understand the scientific foundation underlying modern cannabis therapeutics. The film is particularly valuable for understanding why Israel became a global leader in cannabis research.
Best for: Anyone interested in the scientific history of cannabis and the discovery of the endocannabinoid system.
Grass Is Greener
Director: Fab 5 Freddy • Year: 2019 • Platform: Netflix
This documentary examines the history of cannabis prohibition in the United States through the lens of race, culture, and social justice. It explores how cannabis criminalization has disproportionately affected communities of color and connects the history of prohibition to broader patterns of racial injustice. While not focused on medicinal use specifically, it provides important context for understanding the political and social forces that shaped cannabis policy — and by extension, the research restrictions that created the evidence gap.
Best for: Anyone interested in the social justice dimensions of cannabis policy and prohibition history.
Building Your Own Knowledge
This list is a starting point, not a finish line. The cannabis information landscape is large and evolving. As you explore these resources, keep the same critical thinking skills in mind that we discuss on our Evidence Gap page:
- Consider the source — who created this content and what are their incentives?
- Look for cited research, not just claims
- Be skeptical of anything that sounds too good to be true
- Seek out perspectives that challenge your assumptions
- Remember that the science is still evolving — what we know today may be refined tomorrow
If you have discovered a resource that you think belongs on this list, let us know. We review suggestions and update this page regularly.