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Rise of Cannabis Review on Amazon

 The Rise of Cannabis and the Decline in Civilization is less a conventional argument than a long, intimate memoir stitched from diary entries, street memories, travel stories, dispensary scenes, and afterthoughts about what cannabis has meant across one man’s life. Author Mitch Rubman moves from teenage initiation in Queens to Boston student years, New York hustles, Los Angeles smoke sessions, legal-era dispensaries, and the oddly mournful sociology of modern cannabis culture. The book keeps circling the same essential question, not with a thesis so much as with a shrugging, searching consciousness: as weed becomes normalized, commercialized, and everywhere, what exactly have we gained, and what have we lost?

What stayed with me most was the book’s candor. It isn’t polished into tidy self-explanation, and that turns out to be part of its force. Rubman is often funny in a way that feels accidental and therefore real, whether he’s rolling while driving on the Major Deegan, recalling the ashtray full of roaches in a borrowed Beverly Hills Mercedes, or chasing cheap shake with the desperate ingenuity of someone who knows both the ritual and the trap of habit. There’s a restless, talky, half-stoned music to the prose that sometimes spills over into repetition or rough phrasing, but even then I felt the pulse of an actual life on the page. The strongest passages have that scruffy memoirist magic where danger, absurdity, loneliness, and appetite all occupy the same sentence. The early robbery with Snake, the eerie New York encounter with the scar-faced dealer, and the Luxor detour into mysticism all give the book a bruised, wandering vitality I found hard to dismiss.

Rubman’s central premise about cannabis and civilizational decline is deliberately loose, almost provocatively so. When he lists “locked bathrooms,” hunger, expensive eggs, and mismatched weed-container lids beside “free joint Fridays” and planted trees, the effect is less analytical than diaristic, less argument than worldview. On one level, I wanted a sharper line of thought, more pressure on the title’s big claim. On another, I think the vagueness is revealing. The book becomes a record of how a person thinks while living inside a habit for decades, how economics, friendship, boredom, grief, appetite, and longing all get filtered through smoke. Its most interesting idea is not really that cannabis causes decline, but that the culture around it exposes the texture of a society, its loneliness, its opportunism, its flashes of tenderness, its little indignities, and its odd forms of fellowship.

I found this book oddly moving and unmistakably personal. What remains after the last page is the feeling of having spent time with a man who has made cannabis not just a habit but a lens, sometimes comic, sometimes sad, sometimes almost spiritual, through which he’s watched whole decades slide by. I’d recommend it to readers who like unruly memoirs, countercultural diaries, and books that value lived texture over formal neatness.

on Amazon The Rise of Cannabis and the Decline in Civilization: Rubman, Mitch, Fassett, Mucci: 9781733311076: Amazon.com: Books

Rise of Cannabis and the Decline in Civilization Updates, controversy, humor, cultural critique, and a narrator with a pulse.

 

The Rise of Cannabis and the Decline in Civilization

Paperback – August 31, 2025

by Mitch Rubman (Author), Mucci Fassett (Illustrator)

172 pages

ISBN-13978-1733311076

·       A Chaotic Road Trip Through Weed, Politics, and the American Psyche.

·       “A gonzo journalist who traveled through the cannabis boom and came back with stories that are equal parts hilarious and horrifying.”

·       “A modern-day Hunter S. Thompson wandering through dispensaries and dystopia”

·       “A cultural critic disguised as a stoner tourist”

 Recent Amazon Reviews

Pearl A

5.0 out of 5 stars A thought-provoking look at cannabis

Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2026

Format: KindleVerified Purchase

The Rise of Cannabis and the Decline in Civilization by Mitch Rubman is a book that shows how cannabis use has increased in modern society and the potential implications for decision-making, culture, and health. Rather than focusing on shock value, Mitch Rubman adopts a thoughtful and analytical stance, challenging readers to consider trends that are frequently disregarded or accepted. What makes this book a worthy read is its balanced tone and how it doesn't come across as judgmental but instead invites readers to reflect and form their own opinions. The ideas are clearly explained, and it was so easy to follow, especially for readers who are not familiar with the subject. As a whole, this book was a meaningful read with a touch of humor and perspective. It encourages awareness and seeing the bigger picture behind modern societal changes.

Jorge Sánchez Parra

5.0 out of 5 stars NIce point of view

Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2026

Format: KindleVerified Purchase

This book goes far beyond talking about cannabis: it’s a chaotic, funny, and very human journey through a culture that has become part of everyday life. Through anecdotes, humor, and uncomfortable moments, it raises interesting questions about productivity, values, and social change. It’s not a serious or moralistic essay, but rather a lived from the inside kind of diary. It’s an easy, entertaining read that also leaves you thinking. Ideal for anyone who wants to understand the phenomenon without taking it too seriously.

Johnny Chica

5.0 out of 5 stars An enjoyable chaos

Reviewed in the United States on January 21, 2026

Format: KindleVerified Purchase

What an interesting surprise to stumble upon this "book" in blog format! It's definitely exciting to hear all those stories from someone who experienced them firsthand (not necessarily fully consciously, lol). The experiences in the different locations perfectly reflect the social structures surrounding those places. Going to a lounge in New York is not the same as going to a "dispensary" in Lima, yet we can see that the experience is enjoyable in both places. When I read the book's title, I expected a formal essay stating that the rise of one was directly proportional to the decline of the other, but no. The book is a light read with a very well-told and enjoyable chaos. Recommended.

Christian M

5.0 out of 5 stars Between laughter and discomfort

Reviewed in the United States on October 17, 2025

Format: KindleVerified Purchase

This is not a political discourse, but rather a lively travelogue compiled from years of notebook entries. I laughed at the great stories and the eccentric locals, but the warning in the subtitle resonates in the background. Rubman captures the thrill of access along with the gray areas: street deals, underground rules, and the trafficking of happiness. I appreciated the sincerity more than the lists, but the journey feels authentic, confusing, and extraordinarily human.

Diana Pe

4.0 out of 5 stars Good read

Reviewed in the United States on October 21, 2025

Format: KindleVerified Purchase

I can say that this book was a total surprise. When I started reading it, I thought I was going to find some kind of serious essay or perhaps a harsh critique of the impact of marijuana on society. But what I found was something completely different: a kind of chaotic, funny, and very human travelogue, written by someone who has clearly lived and smoked every one of the stories he tells. What captivated me most was that the book weaves together a collection of anecdotes, notes, thoughts, and scenes in the style of an informal log. This book is definitely a collection of moments experienced by someone who has been deeply immersed in cannabis culture for decades. If you're interested in this world, you should read it.

Nix

5.0 out of 5 stars A very good read!

Reviewed in the United States on March 26, 2026

Format: KindleVerified Purchase

Halfway through this book I looked up and said to my friend, “I think this author has been quietly judging humanity for years.”

Piaras

5.0 out of 5 stars High Times, Sharp Observations.

Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2026

Format: KindleVerified Purchase

Mitch Rubman’s The Rise of Cannabis and the Decline in Civilization reads like a sharp-eyed wander through smoke-filled back rooms and neon-lit dispensaries, guided by a journalist who knows how to listen. The humor lands easily, but beneath it sits a genuine curiosity about the people, rituals, and quiet codes that shape cannabis culture.

Part travelogue, part cultural sketchbook, the book moves from New York streets to Los Angeles lounges, collecting strange encounters and candid moments along the way. It’s funny, reflective, and surprisingly human—less a manifesto than a lived-in portrait of a world usually glimpsed in passing.

Norman

5.0 out of 5 stars High Times and Hard Truths

Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2025

Format: KindleVerified Purchase

The Rise of Cannabis and the Decline of Civilization is more than a story about potheads: it's cultural anthropology in disguise. Mitch Rubman's sharp observations and scandalous encounters expose the colorful chaos of cannabis culture, from smoke-filled lounges to street transactions. His tone is part Hunter S. Thompson and part social critic. A messy, funny, and fascinating chronicle of how marijuana became mainstream, and what that says about us.

###

                   

A chaotic, funny, and sharply observant travelogue through the smoke‑filled lounges, neon dispensaries, and underground corners of global cannabis culture.

 A chaotic, funny, and sharply observant travelogue through the smoke‑filled lounges, neon dispensaries, and underground corners of global cannabis culture.

Part gonzo journalism, part cultural anthropology, part diary of a man quietly judging humanity while passing the joint.

As cannabis goes mainstream, journalist Mitch Rubman sets out on a years‑long journey to document the rise of a plant—and the strange, revealing, sometimes ridiculous world growing around it. From New York lounges to Los Angeles storefronts, from street deals in South America to hazy nights in Europe, Rubman captures the thrill, the contradictions, and the unspoken rules of a culture that has quietly reshaped modern life.

What begins as a simple curiosity becomes a messy, hilarious, and deeply human chronicle of a global shift. Through notebook entries, candid encounters, and moments of both laughter and discomfort, Rubman explores the gray areas: the trafficking of happiness, the rituals of consumption, the productivity paradox, and the subtle ways cannabis has woven itself into the fabric of everyday civilization.

This isn’t a political argument or a moral lecture. It’s a lived‑from‑the‑inside portrait—equal parts entertaining and unsettling—of a world most people only glimpse in passing.

The Rise of Cannabis and the Decline in Civilization new reviews....the real story

 

The Rise of Cannabis and the Decline in Civilization is less a conventional argument than a long, intimate memoir stitched from diary entries, street memories, travel stories, dispensary scenes, and afterthoughts about what cannabis has meant across one man’s life. Author Mitch Rubman moves from teenage initiation in Queens to Boston student years, New York hustles, Los Angeles smoke sessions, legal-era dispensaries, and the oddly mournful sociology of modern cannabis culture. The book keeps circling the same essential question, not with a thesis so much as with a shrugging, searching consciousness: as weed becomes normalized, commercialized, and everywhere, what exactly have we gained, and what have we lost?

What stayed with me most was the book’s candor. It isn’t polished into tidy self-explanation, and that turns out to be part of its force. Rubman is often funny in a way that feels accidental and therefore real, whether he’s rolling while driving on the Major Deegan, recalling the ashtray full of roaches in a borrowed Beverly Hills Mercedes, or chasing cheap shake with the desperate ingenuity of someone who knows both the ritual and the trap of habit. There’s a restless, talky, half-stoned music to the prose that sometimes spills over into repetition or rough phrasing, but even then I felt the pulse of an actual life on the page. The strongest passages have that scruffy memoirist magic where danger, absurdity, loneliness, and appetite all occupy the same sentence. The early robbery with Snake, the eerie New York encounter with the scar-faced dealer, and the Luxor detour into mysticism all give the book a bruised, wandering vitality I found hard to dismiss.

Rubman’s central premise about cannabis and civilizational decline is deliberately loose, almost provocatively so. When he lists “locked bathrooms,” hunger, expensive eggs, and mismatched weed-container lids beside “free joint Fridays” and planted trees, the effect is less analytical than diaristic, less argument than worldview. On one level, I wanted a sharper line of thought, more pressure on the title’s big claim. On another, I think the vagueness is revealing. The book becomes a record of how a person thinks while living inside a habit for decades, how economics, friendship, boredom, grief, appetite, and longing all get filtered through smoke. Its most interesting idea is not really that cannabis causes decline, but that the culture around it exposes the texture of a society, its loneliness, its opportunism, its flashes of tenderness, its little indignities, and its odd forms of fellowship.

I found this book oddly moving and unmistakably personal. What remains after the last page is the feeling of having spent time with a man who has made cannabis not just a habit but a lens, sometimes comic, sometimes sad, sometimes almost spiritual, through which he’s watched whole decades slide by. I’d recommend it to readers who like unruly memoirs, countercultural diaries, and books that value lived texture over formal neatness.

Rating: 5

Thank you,

Thomas Anderson

Editor In Chief

Literary Titan

Shooting on #Norton

 

Raining at Cafe Figaro

 

Mitch Rubman art

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5.0 out of 5 stars A thought-provoking look at #Cannabis: On Amazon.

 To all my readers. Please help support writers. Buy my new book on sale at Amazon.

The Rise of Cannabis and the Decline in Civilization: Rubman, Mitch, Fassett, Mucci: 9781733311076: Amazon.com: Books

The Rise of Cannabis and the Decline in Civilization: Rubman, Mitch, Fassett, Mucci: 9781733311076: Amazon.com: Books

   Pearl A.

5.0 out of 5 stars. A thought-provoking look at cannabis

The Rise of Cannabis and the Decline in Civilization by Mitch Rubman is a book that shows how cannabis use has increased in modern society and the potential implications for decision-making, culture, and health. Rather than focusing on shock value, Mitch Rubman adopts a thoughtful and analytical stance, challenging readers to consider trends that are frequently disregarded or accepted. What makes this book a worthy read is its balanced tone and how it doesn't come across as judgmental but instead invites readers to reflect and form their own opinions. The ideas are clearly explained, and it was so easy to follow, especially for readers who are not familiar with the subject. As a whole, this book was a meaningful read with a touch of humor and perspective. It encourages awareness and seeing the bigger picture behind modern societal changes.

Jorge Sánchez Parra###

5.0 out of 5 stars. Nice point of view

This book goes far beyond talking about cannabis: it’s a chaotic, funny, and very human journey through a culture that has become part of everyday life. Through anecdotes, humor, and uncomfortable moments, it raises interesting questions about productivity, values, and social change. It’s not a serious or moralistic essay, but rather a lived from the inside kind of diary. It’s an easy, entertaining read that also leaves you thinking. Ideal for anyone who wants to understand the phenomenon without taking it too seriously.

Jorge Sanchez Parra###

 5.0 out of 5 stars. An enjoyable chaos

What an interesting surprise to stumble upon this "book" in blog format! It's definitely exciting to hear all those stories from someone who experienced them firsthand (not necessarily fully consciously, lol). The experiences in the different locations perfectly reflect the social structures surrounding those places. Going to a lounge in New York is not the same as going to a "dispensary" in Lima, yet we can see that the experience is enjoyable in both places. When I read the book's title, I expected a formal essay stating that the rise of one was directly proportional to the decline of the other, but no. The book is a light read with a very well-told and enjoyable chaos. Recommended.

Johnny Chica###

5.0 out of 5 stars. Between laughter and discomfort

This is not a political discourse, but rather a lively travelogue compiled from years of notebook entries. I laughed at the great stories and the eccentric locals, but the warning in the subtitle resonates in the background. Rubman captures the thrill of access along with the gray areas: street deals, underground rules, and the trafficking of happiness. I appreciated the sincerity more than the lists, but the journey feels authentic, confusing, and extraordinarily human.

ChristianM###

 4.0 out of 5 stars. Good read

I can say that this book was a total surprise. When I started reading it, I thought I was going to find some kind of serious essay or perhaps a harsh critique of the impact of marijuana on society. But what I found was something completely different: a kind of chaotic, funny, and very human travelogue, written by someone who has clearly lived and smoked every one of the stories he tells. What captivated me most was that the book weaves together a collection of anecdotes, notes, thoughts, and scenes in the style of an informal log. This book is definitely a collection of moments experienced by someone who has been deeply immersed in cannabis culture for decades. If you're interested in this world, you should read it. Diane Pe###

 5.0 out of 5 stars. A very good read!

Halfway through this book I looked up and said to my friend, “I think this author has been quietly judging humanity for years.” Nix###

 5.0 out of 5 stars. High Times, Sharp Observations.

Mitch Rubman’s The Rise of Cannabis and the Decline in Civilization reads like a sharp-eyed wander through smoke-filled back rooms and neon-lit dispensaries, guided by a journalist who knows how to listen. The humor lands easily, but beneath it sits a genuine curiosity about the people, rituals, and quiet codes that shape cannabis culture.

Part travelogue, part cultural sketchbook, the book moves from New York streets to Los Angeles lounges, collecting strange encounters and candid moments along the way. It’s funny, reflective, and surprisingly human—less a manifesto than a lived-in portrait of a world usually glimpsed in passing. Piaras###

 5.0 out of 5 stars. High Times and Hard Truths

The Rise of Cannabis and the Decline of Civilization is more than a story about potheads: it's cultural anthropology in disguise. Mitch Rubman's sharp observations and scandalous encounters expose the colorful chaos of cannabis culture, from smoke-filled lounges to street transactions. His tone is part Hunter S. Thompson and part social critic. A messy, funny, and fascinating chronicle of how marijuana became mainstream, and what that says about us. Ben AF###

 4.0 out of 5 stars. Thought-provoking

For me, this book was less like a structured argument and more like stepping into someone’s personal notebook of experiences. I think that’s actually the book’s biggest strength. It seems to me that Mitch Rubman isn’t trying to lecture the reader or prove a single point. Instead, he shares observations, stories, and moments that together paint a picture of cannabis culture as he experienced it.

Caleen Roland###

 5.0 out of 5 stars The Rise of Cannabis and the Decline in Civilization

Rubman has this gift where even the mundane, like waiting in line for a vape pen becomes hilarious. I laughed so much, I scared my cat.

Esteban###

 5.0 out of 5 stars When smoke says more than the title

This book left me with a strange feeling, like when a long conversation ends and you are not fully sure if you agreed or not, but you still feel that it mattered. The title points to a harsh judgment about civilization, yet what I found was simply a person talking about what he saw, what he experienced, and what he thought, without trying to give lessons. That worked for me. The author does not try to convince anyone, he just shares moments that are sometimes awkward and sometimes honest. While reading, it felt like cannabis was mostly an excuse to talk about people, loneliness, and the simple ways we search for meaning. I do not think the book has all the answers, but it does not need to. It stayed with me after finishing, and that is enough for me.

Venise###

 4.0 out of 5 stars An Interesting Read

The Rise of Cannabis and the Decline in Civilization by Mitch Rubman delivers a provocative examination of how the growing acceptance of marijuana may be impacting society’s moral and cultural fabric. Drawing on research and social commentary, Mr Rubman argues that cannabis use contributes to declining productivity and values. Though controversial, his perspective encourages readers to question the long-term effects of normalization and consider the broader consequences of this cultural shift. CamilaAMR###

 5.0 out of 5 stars Really useful book!

While I believe some of the information used gives the impression of being exaggerated and very biased, Rubman uses this type of information to make his own conclusion about cannabis. Additionally, it is not a neutral or objective book; however, it can certainly be considered a warning. In summary, Rubman has written a very provocative, intriguing, and thought-provoking book that would be ideal for individuals seeking alternative ideas about cannabis or that challenge traditional thoughts regarding cannabis.

Camilo

 5.0 out of 5 stars Really Interesting

I really enjoy books that talk about current social issues that affect society and the world, showing how it organizes and develops in different ways. This kind of reading, based on real stories and examples instead of pure theory, connects easily with the reader. There is one main idea in this book that I think must be supported at all costs: the importance of understanding social changes from a human point of view. The author combines adventure, real events, and history in a fun and interesting way. It’s a perfect book for people who want to learn about social topics and get a better understanding of how our world works today. Camilo#

 5.0 out of 5 stars As a Jamaican that grew up around people who love ganja, this book is a good read. Reading this book to see why my father and brother’s love (ganja) cannabis so much was very enlightening. Everyone thinks cannabis makes them lazy, but somehow everyone I meet and know loves it and always say it helps them with the process of reinventing their life.” Shanice#

 5.0 out of 5 stars A Bold and Eye-Opening Cultural Examination!

This book delivers a thought-provoking analysis of how widespread cannabis use intersects with social values, productivity, and cultural shifts. Mitch Rubman surely is an author who pays attention to places, people, and small details; you see that skill reflected throughout the whole book. Yvonne Brown

 5.0 out of 5 stars Does the rise in one cause the other to decline?

The author explores the rise of cannabis use while using humour to draw in readers and engage them. He follows the cannabis in its secret places, on the street, and in dispensaries. Is it related to the decline in civilization? Marlo Facey#

 5.0 out of 5 stars. highly recommend

What I love is that Rubman doesn’t try to convince you of anything; he simply shows you what he sees and lets you come to your own conclusions.

Tina

 5.0 out of 5 stars. A Must-Read

This book feels like being stuck on a long flight next to the most entertaining person you have ever met.

Omesha James

 5.0 out of 5 stars. Good read

If civilization is dying, at least we have books like this to laugh on our way down

Cameron W.

 5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing book

This book surprised me in the best way. While it explores cannabis culture, it’s really about people and how situations change perspectives.

Scarlett Alvardo

 5.0 out of 5 stars Book of laughter

I swear, the plant has more social skills than I do!’ Yes, Mitch, thank you for validating my awkward small talk anxiety. This book isn’t just about cannabis; it’s about laughing at yourself while everyone else is puffing away.

Kadeisha

 5.0 out of 5 stars The Cannabis discussion

The Rise of Cannabis and the Decline in Civilization examines cannabis culture across countries, highlighting its influence on society and legal systems. The book encourages informed discussion and opens the door to deeper understanding of a complex global topic

anishka ophelia

 5.0 out of 5 stars Tense and funny moments

The Rise of Cannabis and the Decline in Civilization is a title that made me think that this book would criticize the use of cannabis as a weed. However, the author actually collected some pretty hilarious stories, as well as some tales that could have gone awry about the world of cannabis and its users. We get a look behind the scenes and get taken on a journey, as Mitch Rubman travels from the United States of America to Egypt and Peru and back to the United States again. I do not usually enjoy travelogues a lot, but this one was worth a read. There were plenty of tense and also some funny moments. ZebraDebra###

 5.0 out of 5 stars More than weed

What makes this book work is its honesty. The book doesn’t glamorize cannabis culture; he observes it. The encounters, travel stories, and behind-the-scenes looks feel lived-in and unfiltered. You get humor, risk, and insight without preaching, just a slow-burning curiosity about a massive, misunderstood subculture! JOVANNA R###

 5.0 out of 5 stars A necessary warning about the risks of progress

In this book, Rubman presents a study that calls us to reflect on how the acceptance and widespread use of cannabis leads to cultural deterioration that goes beyond what we imagine. The author combines data, history, and social criticism to show us the consequences that mass consumption can have on our health, causing moral damage and affecting our ability to work. Although his position may seem radical, he calls us to deeply reflect on the limits of human freedom. I recommend this work to those who wish to understand the social and moral conflicts behind the mass consumption of cannabis

Sussan M.###

 5.0 out of 5 stars Green Chronicles of a Hidden World

This book recounts everyday experiences in which cannabis is the thread that runs through the entire story, although it is clear that the real protagonists of this work are human experiences. It is worth mentioning that the author highlights various dangerous moments he has experienced, different illogical conversations, and presents several characters with incisive and quick styles. I recommend it to everyone, but especially to those who want to gain a deeper understanding of the cannabis subculture. Of course, it stands out not for its formal language, but rather for providing interesting information through a very entertaining narrative.Lester###

 5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable read

Very unique look at all the cannabis culture, very fun to read. It talks about cannabis from the raw places people hang around while using, it also tells stories from NY and LA, among others. I think I was very curious about this read because the approach is completely new to anything I have read about this topic. It felt real and also talks about how the cannabis industry works and also includes info about stocks and crypto. A very enjoyable read for sure, it shows cannabis and its world as a whole so it gives readers a clear picture of the community and how it changes society. Brenda###

5.0 out of 5 stars Original book

I didn't know what to expect from this book, but I was pleasantly surprised. Author Mitch Rubman manages to take the reader on a fun and authentic journey into cannabis culture. He presents both crazy adventures and memorable moments. I loved how he combines personal anecdotes, from buying marijuana on the streets of New York to exploring dispensaries in Los Angeles. Each page offers something new with curious characters and unexpected situations. I think the way cannabis culture is presented, along with lists of dispensaries and even cryptocurrencies, makes it an entertaining and unique read. I recommend it for those looking for something original and surprising. I want to add that I was surprised by this author, and I will definitely read something from him again soon.

Marina

 5.0 out of 5 stars Great stuff, Wooh!

I thought I was just picking up a book about weed, but instead I got a PhD in stoner philosophy. Now I’m questioning everything… except my snack choices, those are sacred.

John###

 5.0 out of 5 stars Great book

Do not let the title confuse you; this book is a great time.

 

 

Fast moving little dog

 

Pins and cannabis buttons collection

 

At the Woods with books on counter

 

The Rise of #Cannabis and the Decline in #Civilization Lit Review

The Rise of Cannabis and the Decline in Civilization

The Rise of Cannabis and the Decline in Civilization: Rubman, Mitch, Fassett, Mucci: 9781733311076: Amazon.com: Books

Jorge Sánchez Parra

5.0 out of 5 stars Nice point of view

Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2026

Format: KindleVerified Purchase

This book goes far beyond talking about cannabis: it’s a chaotic, funny, and very human journey through a culture that has become part of everyday life.

Pearl A.

5.0 out of 5 stars A thought-provoking look at cannabis

Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2026

Format: KindleVerified Purchase

The Rise of Cannabis and the Decline in Civilization by Mitch Rubman is a book that shows how cannabis use has increased in modern society and the potential implications for decision-making, culture, and health. 

Johnny Chica

5.0 out of 5 stars An enjoyable chaos

Reviewed in the United States on January 21, 2026

Format: KindleVerified Purchase

What an interesting surprise to stumble upon this "book" in blog format! It's definitely exciting to hear all those stories from someone who experienced them firsthand (not necessarily fully consciously, lol).

 5.0 out of 5 stars High Times and Hard Truths

Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2025

Format: KindleVerified Purchase

The Rise of Cannabis and the Decline of Civilization is more than a story about potheads: it's cultural anthropology in disguise. Mitch Rubman's sharp observations and scandalous encounters expose the colorful chaos of cannabis culture, from smoke-filled lounges to street transactions. His tone is part Hunter S. Thompson and part social critic.

 Piaras

5.0 out of 5 stars High Times, Sharp Observations.

Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2026

Format: KindleVerified Purchase

Mitch Rubman’s The Rise of Cannabis and the Decline in Civilization reads like a sharp-eyed wander through smoke-filled back rooms and neon-lit dispensaries, guided by a journalist who knows how to listen.

 

new review....The Rise of Cannabis and the Decline in Civilization ON AMAZON

THE RISE OF CANNABIS AND THE DECLINE IN CIVILIZATION

The Rise of Cannabis and the Decline in Civilization is less a conventional argument than a long, intimate memoir stitched from diary entries, street memories, travel stories, dispensary scenes, and afterthoughts about what cannabis has meant across one man’s life. Author Mitch Rubman moves from teenage initiation in Queens to Boston student years, New York hustles, Los Angeles smoke sessions, legal-era dispensaries, and the oddly mournful sociology of modern cannabis culture. The book keeps circling the same essential question, not with a thesis so much as with a shrugging, searching consciousness: as weed becomes normalized, commercialized, and everywhere, what exactly have we gained, and what have we lost?

 

What stayed with me most was the book’s candor. It isn’t polished into tidy self-explanation, and that turns out to be part of its force. Rubman is often funny in a way that feels accidental and therefore real, whether he’s rolling while driving on the Major Deegan, recalling the ashtray full of roaches in a borrowed Beverly Hills Mercedes, or chasing cheap shake with the desperate ingenuity of someone who knows both the ritual and the trap of habit. There’s a restless, talky, half-stoned music to the prose that sometimes spills over into repetition or rough phrasing, but even then I felt the pulse of an actual life on the page. The strongest passages have that scruffy memoirist magic where danger, absurdity, loneliness, and appetite all occupy the same sentence. The early robbery with Snake, the eerie New York encounter with the scar-faced dealer, and the Luxor detour into mysticism all give the book a bruised, wandering vitality I found hard to dismiss.

 

Rubman’s central premise about cannabis and civilizational decline is deliberately loose, almost provocatively so. When he lists “locked bathrooms,” hunger, expensive eggs, and mismatched weed-container lids beside “free joint Fridays” and planted trees, the effect is less analytical than diaristic, less argument than worldview. On one level, I wanted a sharper line of thought, more pressure on the title’s big claim. On another, I think the vagueness is revealing. The book becomes a record of how a person thinks while living inside a habit for decades, how economics, friendship, boredom, grief, appetite, and longing all get filtered through smoke. Its most interesting idea is not really that cannabis causes decline, but that the culture around it exposes the texture of a society, its loneliness, its opportunism, its flashes of tenderness, its little indignities, and its odd forms of fellowship.

 

I found this book oddly moving and unmistakably personal. What remains after the last page is the feeling of having spent time with a man who has made cannabis not just a habit but a lens, sometimes comic, sometimes sad, sometimes almost spiritual, through which he’s watched whole decades slide by. I’d recommend it to readers who like unruly memoirs, countercultural diaries, and books that value lived texture over formal neatness.

On the road Santa Monica

 

On the road with Cats and Dogs