Steve Bloom and Shirley Halperin will be hosting the POT CULTURE panel at the 37th Annual NORML Conference. The panel’s focus is marijuana’s profound influence on music, movies and media. The Doors co-founder Ray Manzarek - he wrote the essay “My First Time” in POT CULTURE - will be on the panel, along with Michael Aldrich (co-editor, Marijuana Review), Rick Cusick (associate publisher, High Times) and Mikki Norris (managing editor, West Coast Leaf). Steve, Shirley and Ray will sign books after the panel.

WHAT: POT CULTURE panel, NORML Conference

WHERE: Doubletree Hotel & Executive Meeting Center Berkeley Marina, 200 Marina Blvd., Berkeley, California

WHEN: Oct. 18, 4:30-5:30 pm

For more info, go to NORML.org

Now that you’ve gotten and (hopefully) read POT CULTURE why not come test your stoner know-how at an event Shirley Halperin is hosting at Book Soup on September 8?

We’re calling it The GREAT AMERICAN POT CULTURE QUIZ (a blatant rip-off of an Entertainment Weekly special issue, but Shirley works there, so whatevs…) - 30 questions about movies, music, TV and marijuana history, all based on information found in the book. Will you be the biggest stoner in the room? Come prove your pot expertise!

There will be laughs, there will be prizes, there will be celebrities featured in POT CULTURE signing afterwards, so bring your copy of the book or buy one at Book Soup.

What: THE GREAT AMERICAN POT CULTURE QUIZ
When: Monday, September 8, 7PM
Where: Book Soup - 8188 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, CA
More info here

The world’s largest marijuana rally - the two-day Seattle Hempfest - features bands and speakers on five stage in Myrtle Edwards Park along the Puget Sound, as well as hundreds of vendors selling hemp products, food and lots of cool paraphernalia. POT CULTURE co-author Steve Bloom will be at Hempfest on August 16-17. You can find him selling books at Booth 429 (the West Coast Leaf booth) near the Main Stage. Stop by and say high!

Steve is speaking on Saturday at 5 pm (Main Stage) and Sunday at 6:40 pm (Seeley Stage). He’ll also be part of the Marijuana and Media panel on Sunday from 1:35-2:20 pm at the Hemposium Stage.

The leading pro-marijuana organization in the country has given their green thumbs up for POT CULTURE. In his review, NORML executive director Allen St. Pierre says: “Along with a pleasant, informative and comprehensive tour de force of the intersection of cannabis and commerce, Bloom & Halperin’s POT CULTURE profoundly demonstrates the resiliency of cannabis consumers in the face of a historically alcohol-dominant culture and so-called stoners’ abilities to create a nurturing and sustained pot culture.”

NORML is offering the book and a membership for $25. Buy a copy of POT CULTURE and join NORML today!

Co-author Steve Bloom will be reading from POT CULTURE and signing copies at the Inquiring Minds Bookstore in New Paltz, NY - home of “Stoner College” SUNY New Paltz.

Where: 6 Church St.

When: June 28, 6 pm

Order POT CULTURE today!

On Tuesday, June 24, POT CULTURE co-author Shirley Halperin is hosting “Poolside Chat: Back to the Stoner Age” as part of the Los Angeles Film Festival.

Shirley’s pot-fueled panel will include Richard “Cheech” Marin (Up in Smoke), Jenji Kohan (Weeds), Jay Chandrasekhar (Super Troopers, Beerfest) and Doug Benson (Super High Me).

Where: The W Los Angeles (930 Hilgard Ave.), Westwood, 7-8 pm. $12

Order POT CULTURE today!

The third season of Weeds features a cameo by POT CULTURE in the episode titled “Cankles.” Nancy’s oldest son Silas (Hunter Parish) is getting into the family pot business and wants to know more. So Silas smartly has his own copy of POT CULTURE, which he’s reading at the kitchen counter as the episode begins. When Tara (Mary-Kate Olson) enters the scene and they start arguing, he puts the book down.

You can watch this episode on the Weeds - Season Three DVD, which is just out. The package includes an excerpt from POT CULTURE!

The fourth season of Weeds begins on June 16. Albert Brooks stars as Len - he’s Nancy’s father-in-law and Andy’s dad - as the Botwins move south and start a new business near the Mexican border. Will they be selling schwag? Tune in and check it out. If you don’t have Showtime, now’s the time to sign up. Weeds is worth it.

Order your copy of POT CULTURE today!

“POT CULTURE is an ‘art’ book that any respectable pot smoker should have in their personal library.” - West Coast Leaf

Dean Budnick’s interview with Shirley Halperin at Jambands.com

Judy McGuire’s Date Girl column in the Seattle Weekly, featuring Steve Bloom

“If you’ve ever wondered what your favorite artists listen to when smoking out or how they score in foreign cities, you can now read all about it.” - Spinner

“The glossary of stonerisms is dominated by photos of jam-rock icons that indicate smoking pot is inherently tied to the relics and permutations of hippie culture.” - The Stranger

“A fine summation of the wonders of weed and how it permeates our wider pop culture.” - Houston Press (HouStoned section)

“For anyone who ever wanted to cop a feel of the stoner’s life, this book is the answer.” - Campus Circle

“Many, many more stars dish about smoking the wacky tabacky.” - Blogging High

If it’s 4:20 in your neighborhood today, POT CULTURE is recommended.” - 1800blogger

“An eye-catching attention-driven quick read that audiences can turn to any page and be entertained.” - Downtown Money Waster

“This hilarious and informative miscellany is a surefire winner for every marijuana enthusiast.” - Hans Is Great

Maroon 5 blog

Order POT CULTURE today!

POT CULTURE authors Shirley Halperin and Steve Bloom were special guests of the Jammy Awards on May 7 at the WaMu Theatre in New York. The dank-fueled duo presented the award for Best Archival CD (to the Grateful Dead for Three from the Vault) and in turn presented copies of their hot pot book to Phish’s Jon Fishman and Saturday Night Live legend Chevy Chase, who cracked, “I don’t need it. I lived it!”

Phish received a Lifetime Achievement Award during the lengthy show hosted by Warren Haynes and Grace Potter. Bloom was wistful when he learned it would be the last Jammys show. “I attended all seven Jammy Awards,” he said. “It’s the greatest musical show on earth. I look forward to whatever comes next from the Jammys team.”

Read New York Times Jammys review • Order POT CULTURE today!

Pic: Shirley Halperin and Steve Bloom on-stage (by Bob Berg)

Shirley Halperin and Steve Bloom - authors of POT CULTURE - partied at Sutra to celebrate the release of their marijuana book on May 6. Among those who packed the smokey East Village club were Drug Policy Alliance executive director Ethan Nadlemann; Dr. Judy Kuriansky; actor Derice Bannock (Cool Runnings); rockers Ryan Miller (Guster), Evan Winiker (Steel Train) and David Peel (Lower East Side); comedians Tony Camin and Rob Cantrell (The Marijuana-Logues); Jammys producer Pete Shapiro; film critic Elvis Mitchell; Yippies Dana Beal and Aron Kay; and Ben Sherman’s Dana Dynamite. DJ Greg Caz provided the stony tunes. Order your copy of POT CULTURE today!

Pic: Steve Bloom with the DPA’s Ethan Nadelmann (by Bob Berg)