In the late 1930s, a movement to ban the drug marijuana began to gather force, resulting in the eventual banning of the cultivation.

Oaksterdam University in Oakland is today unique in the world as a sort of Aristotelian lyceum for the study of all aspects-horticultural, scientific, historical-of the weed.

Residents of such a diverse place may be more inclined to ignore odd behaviour and a funny smell emanating from the house down the road—provided that the grass is kept short.