This book is more about ancient history and the origins of religion than marijuana. It even touches on the philosophy of conciousness and linguistics. It reads like an extensive research paper or thesis (with footnotes on every page and an impressive bibliography). It took me a whole year to get through it all! Green Gold The Tree of Life: Marijuana in Magic and Religion quotes respected historians such as Mircea Eliade and famous authors such as Terrance McKenna. It has inspired me to read more into the history of religion. It is a very valueable resource for anyone interested in the scholarly side of pychadelic history and the anthropological effects. This book convinces me that every religion has at one time been influenced by and intertwined with drug use. Today marijuana is an illegal drug used for medical and recreational purposes. In the past, it was also an important part of spiritual practices worldwide.