Join us for an in-person event with Dr. Godfrey Pearlson, to learn about his book, The Science of Weed.Â
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In The Science of Weed, Dr. Pearlson takes us on a captivating and accessible journey, from ancient Hindu villages to cutting-edge research labs to the intricacies of the human brain, unraveling the truths, myths, and persisting mysteries surrounding cannabis.
A witty, engaging, in-depth, and evidence-based look at how cannabis affects our brains.
Pot, weed, ganja, chronic: whatever you call it, cannabis can profoundly affect the human body and brain. In The Science of Weed, renowned physician, psychiatric researcher, and Yale neuroscience professor Godfrey Pearlson offers a deep dive into the true facts of cannabis, covering everything from its botany and chemistry to its impacts on psychology and human behavior. Taking a neutral approach to the subject, Pearlson emphasizes evidence-based research to separate the reality from the hype about this complicated plant.
Pearlson explores the origins of cannabis, its interactions with humans throughout history, and its medicinal applications. His clear explanations of the plant’s chemical structure and composition, as well as the internal cannabinoid system of the human body, ensure readers gain a real understanding of the mechanisms behind a subjective high. Moving beyond its effects on humans, Pearlson discusses the plant’s collective impact on economics and the health care system, demonstrating how scientific scrutiny can bring enlightened reason to the contentious debates surrounding the drug.
By objectively explaining the science behind weed, this book provides a thorough education for anyone who wants to know how cannabis affects our brains and bodies. It allows for an unbiased consideration of public policy on legalization, and helps readers weigh risks and benefits to make their own decisions about using it.
Dr. Godfrey Pearlson is currently professor of Psychiatry and Neuroscience at Yale University and is the founding director of the Olin Neuropsychiatry Research Center, at Institute of Living. An expert in the fields of marijuana and of psychosis, he has published over 800 peer-reviewed scientific articles & his current h index is 108. He is deputy editor of Schizophrenia Research and a founding member of the Research Society on Marijuana.
Dr. Pearlson completed his medical degree at Newcastle University in the UK and a graduate philosophy degree at Columbia University in New York City. He then trained in psychiatry as a resident, and was subsequently a psychiatry professor at Johns Hopkins University, where he founded the Division of Psychiatry Neuroimaging.
He is also co-founder of the annual BrainDance competition for high school and college students across New England. These competitive awards encourage students to gain knowledge about psychiatric diseases and to develop a more tolerant and realistic perspective towards people with severe psychiatric problems.
Dr. Pearlson was awarded the 2015 Stanley Dean Award for Schizophrenia Research from the American College of Psychiatrists, in 2015 was inducted into the Johns Hopkins Society of Scholars (distinguished alumni) and in 2019 received the Research Mentorship Award from the American Psychiatric Association. He is also a certified Master Gardener in the state of CT, a member of the Board of Physicians that advises the Connecticut Department of Public Health on appropriate use of medical marijuana, and chair of the neuroscience committee for the Research Society on Marijuana.