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  Mom's Marijuana

Posted by FoM on November 30, 2000 at 09:47:14 PT
By Dan Shapiro 
Source: Salon Magazine 

My parents always kept a small plot of land in the backyard as a garden. It was roughly the size of an average bedroom. Pretty small. But they hovered around that garden all spring and summer. They plowed, fertilized, hoed, mulched, and sampled the soil. They watered. They pinched leaves. At night they pointed to pictures in books and seed magazines, which eventually accumulated and took over the dining room. And then, a few months later, there was a crop of something. 
Usually a crop of mutant something. One year it was zucchini. Thousands of zucchini crawled out of the garden as if cast in a late-night horror film. Neighbors came home to anonymous zucchini breads, pies, and cakes delicately balanced inside of screen doors or stuffed into mailboxes. Dad kept a huge zucchini next to his bed in case there were intruders. I was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease in April, the planting month. Dr. Brodsky talked with his arms crossed in front of him, listing the chemotherapy agents I would be taking and their side effects. Prednisone. Procarbazine. Nitrogen mustard. Vincristine. The latter two would cause nausea and vomiting. It sounded unpleasant. A few nights before I was scheduled to start treatment, I called a friend, the only person my age I knew who'd had cancer. He muttered five gruff words into the phone: "Chemo's grim, man, get weed." I trotted into the living room and nonchalantly announced to the family that I was going to buy marijuana to help with the nausea and vomiting. There was an oppressive silence, punctuated only by the rapid tapping of my mother's finger on an armchair. Then she began, her voice carrying that staccato edge she generally reserved for my father. She told me in no uncertain terms that there would be no drugs in the house. She berated me about the dangers of illicit substances, the horrors that visit lives filled with addiction, and swore to me that her roof would never shelter a drug user. She ended her diatribe with an outstretched finger. With the vigor of an adolescent with a cause, I argued back that for me, marijuana would be medicine, the only medicine that could temper the violent treatment I faced. That it wasn't addictive, and that my body would soon process toxins far more dangerous than marijuana. At the end of our conversation we were where we began. I knew my mother. Once she was entrenched in a position, argument was futile. I retreated. I still wonder what happened to her during the night. Maybe she studied the pamphlets the doctors provided, maybe she woke up in a sweat, the remnants of noxious dreams about her son and chemotherapy still etched in her mind's eye. I don't know. But I do know this. The next morning my mother ran her finger down the "Smoke Shop" listings in the phone book. She called a number of establishments, asking detailed questions and jotting down words like bong, carb, and water pipe. Then she gathered her keys and purse, and 30 minutes later was walking down the aisles of a head shop called Stairway to Heaven, taking notes and carefully checking the merchandise for shoddy workmanship. My mother is a Consumer Reports shopper. I was sitting on the ground in the backyard when my mother's car pulled into the driveway. A few moments later she appeared on the back porch waving a three-foot bong over her head. She proclaimed her find with the same robust voice she'd used for years to call my brother and me to dinner: "Is this one okay? They didn't have blue ... " When I entered the house she delicatelv handed me the bong and some money. She brushed dust from my shoulder and softly told me to do whatever I needed to get the marijuana. After a quick phone call I left to make my purchase. When I returned with the small Baggie my mother asked to see it. I felt a sharp adolescent fear, conditioned from years of living under my mother's vigilant eyes. I handed it over. She looked into the small bag. Incredulous. "Where's the rest of it?" she asked. "That's it, Ma," I said. She squinted at me. "I swear, Ma. That's it." She murmured quietly, "Honey, give me the seeds." I thought of huge zucchinis. When my father learned of my mother's plan he clipped two articles out of the paper with the titles "Police Raid Yields Results" and "Drug House Seized." He put them under a magnet on the refrigerator and underlined the worst parts. That night, as we prepared for dinner, Mom read them, nodded soberly, and said, "Bring them on." That summer my parents plowed, fertilized, hoed, mulched, and sampled the soil. They watered. They pinched leaves. And that August the mutant crop arrived. Ten bushy plants grew over 11 feet tall in our backyard, eclipsing the sunflowers in front of them. Far more weed than I could have smoked in a lifetime. The Gainesville airport is small. It doesn't even have a tower. There are two gates and you can see both from the airport lobby. It's a humid night, the air heavy with sweat and the occasional mosquito. Gainesville is a college town and the airport is filled with college wear. There are a lot of baseball caps, ponytails, and shorts. People sit reading or watching tiny televisions built into kiosks scattered through the lobby. Football is on television. I'm watching the second half of a depressing Patriots game when I see their plane coast down outside the windows. I stand up with the others and we gather around the gate. Then, a little while later, I feel a familiar comfort as I spot my father's bobbing bald head. And then Mom. That confident stride I'd know anywhere. Her purse strap runs across her body like a crossing guard's reflector and for a moment she looks as if she's in uniform. Before I realize it I'm cutting through the small crowd and into their arms. Both of them at once. Big tired smiles. My cheeks feel hot. We stand quietly at the baggage conveyor. A few bags arrive and we pull them off the belt. Then more. And more. Mom has never been an efficient packer. It's more important to be prepared for any eventuality than to be able to fit one's luggage into a standard-sized vehicle like, say, a U-Haul. The sixth bag arrives. It's roughly the size of a Buick. "Jimmy Hoffa's body is in there?" my father suggests. "Don't be a wise-ass," my mother says. I grunt under the weight. The inquisition starts on the drive. My parents haven't been to Gainesville before. Or our new apartment. Is there any place to get good bagels in this town? Is the biopsy still scheduled for Thursday morning? How long will I be in the hospital? Since I haven't had any other symptoms, couldn't it just be a cyst or something? I look tired -- have I been going to classes? Do I want my father to drive? Maybe I shouldn't have carried the bags? How's graduate school, is it harder than Vassar? Dad and I lug the baggage into our new apartment. We carry in the Jimmy Hoffa bag together. When we finally manage to get it in, we are both laughing at its weight. Indignant, Mom directs us to drop it in the kitchen. "It's hot," Mom says, working the knob on the air conditioner. "Maybe we can go to Payne's Prairie or Ginnie Springs tomorrow, before you meet with the physicians?" she asks. My parents always do this. No matter where I am, they know more about the place than I do. Where every historical site is, how many Apaches were relocated there in the 1880s, and, of course, where they might find a red-bellied plover. Payne's Prairie is a large swamp south of Gainesville. At the time, I hadn't heard of it. Or Ginnie Springs, where, according to my mother, crystal-clear blue water rises out of the limestone. There's knocking and the front door swings open. "I want you to finally meet Terry," I say. Mom stops fiddling with the air conditioner and stares. Terry walks in. She is all smiles. There are warm introductions. We chat for a few minutes and then I go to my new hall closet to find towels, leaving Terry and my parents alone in the kitchen. I'm digging through bath towels when I hear Terry, her voice much louder than usual. "OH MY GOD, is that what I THINK it is?" "What?" I hear my mother say softly. "Oh my God. OH MY GOD! DANIEL!" Terry yells. What's wrong? I walk briskly back to the room, matching washcloths in my arms. I arrive in time to see my mother yank, and finally free, a massive, plastic Ziploc baggy from the Hoffa bag. I know immediately that I have never seen this much marijuana crammed into such a small space. It must weigh a pound. The corners of the bag are splayed out and soon it's going to give birth to its contents. Terry asks softly, "You didn't check that through ..." She looks from my mother to me and then to my father. "No one searched my bag," Mom says, flat. Then she sets the marijuana down in the middle of the kitchen table and walks over to the stove. She lifts my teapot and begins to fill it with water. "We've got plenty more hanging in the attic if you need it. So, Terry ... have you been to Ginnie Springs?" Note: When I was diagnosed with cancer, my mother just said yes to growing 11-foot pot plants in her backyard garden.About the Writer:Dan Shapiro is a clinical psychologist at the University of Arizona and the author of "Mom's Marijuana: Insights About Living." Source: Salon.com (US Web)Author: Dan ShapiroPublished: November 30, 2000Copyright: 2000 Salon.comContact: salon salonmagazine.comAddress: 22 4th Street16th Floor San Francisco, CA 94103Fax: (415) 645-9204Website: http://www.salon.com/Forum: http://tabletalk.salon.com/Feedback: http://www.salon.com/contact/letters/http://www.salon.com/mwt/feature/2000/11/30/moms_marijuana/index.htmlCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml

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Comment #17 posted by schmeff on December 01, 2000 at 10:37:09 PT:

Don't feed the Trolls part ???

Touche Thomas.I'm 100% w/Dan B. Let the fools show their true colors, then ignore 'em. I'm perfectly comfortable with the idea that posts should be authored responsibly, and those who abuse the very minimal guideline [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] should expect to have their posts censored or deleted."Mom's Marijuana" is terrific. Who could not relate to the mother's protective ire when confronted with the possibility that some police raid was going to come between her son and his medicine. "Bring them on." 
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Comment #16 posted by Thomas on December 01, 2000 at 08:47:50 PT

Amazing

I find it to be quite amazing that some one with the intellectual abilities of Mr. Post #2 is actually able to use a computer. They must be getting very user friendly.
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Comment #15 posted by m segesta on December 01, 2000 at 05:28:16 PT:

And now, back to the book Salon reviewed......

Has anyone read "Mom's Marijuana"? I just finished it last week, and I must say it's a wonderful book that gives one that "warm fuzzy" feeling, the same you got when you read "Tuesdays with Morrie." Fortunately for us, Dr. Shapiro decided to title the book in such a way as to highlight the "now that it's in my family" reversals Dr. Russo discusses and because the book radiates the "warm fuzzies", the title helps our cause as many sick are helped by this plant.Read this book! Pax vobiscum,M Segesta
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Comment #14 posted by FoM on November 30, 2000 at 19:29:31 PT

Thank You Everyone

Thank you everyone for your advice. I am glad you mostly all agree to leave it alone. I have seen enough of these type problems and I think that's the best way to not make waves. I just don't pay any real attention to comments of a certain nature. I think I must have a built in switch to just turn certains things off and then they don't get me upset or raise my blood pressure. That's such a drag getting upset for me. Peace, FoM!
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Comment #13 posted by military officer guy on November 30, 2000 at 18:43:28 PT

leave it there...

i luv to see morons post stuff like this...shows hows stupid antis are...too bad they are just passing thru and notactually reading any of the post and articles here...we can win this war...
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Comment #12 posted by defenderoffreeworld on November 30, 2000 at 18:01:17 PT:

just embrace the comment

when we receive a comment such as the one posted by muthafucka.com, we musn't be offended nor upset. we have to think to ourselves 'thank God for the fact that i have a free mind, and have something to believe in and fight for'the world is full of ignorant people. ignore them, give thanks for who you are and how you think. together, we will overcome. it won't be easy and it won't come soon, but the voice of the majority will be heard!and the fact that the comment was not censored is just proof that we go by what we say, and have values and morals that will not be stepped on. say no to censorship!
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Comment #11 posted by freedom fighter on November 30, 2000 at 17:48:02 PT

If the troll keeps

 on trolling, we all shall know then. :)Yeah, trolls belong to the trash! ;))))I love the article! Mom knows best! :)
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Comment #10 posted by dddd on November 30, 2000 at 17:23:07 PT

profanity

 I am not really offended by profanity,because I believe many profane words are part of American language,and there are times when explitives are appropriate."muthaf#%ka.com"s' comment is senseless.Perhaps mutha*****.com,would like to explain themself in more coherent,and less profane terms? I imagine that perhaps #2 was just experimenting to see whether or not the comment would be screened,posted,or monitored and deleted. I agree with FoMs reluctance to censor anything.This is not to say that senseless profane gibberish should not end up where it belongs,,,in the trash.......dddd
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Comment #9 posted by Occassional Pot User on November 30, 2000 at 15:11:44 PT

post #2 is what we call a "TROLL"

Dont feed the trolls.
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Comment #8 posted by Dan B on November 30, 2000 at 13:06:29 PT:

Re: Post # 2 ("dope")

First of all, this person is functionally illiterate. It is amazing the lengths one will go to in order to prove to the world just how ignorant one is. I say leave the message there. It shows the antis' true colors. I mentioned several messages back that we should be positive, and I believe it. So, when someone posts an obvious flame like the post titled "dope," let's leave it up to show that we are above their idiotic rants. Any regular contributor to this page is an intellectual giant when compared to the ignoramus who posted this garbage. Actually, the great majority of you are downright brilliant (observer, kaptinemo, dddd, FoM, Dr. Ethan Russo, etc.), and putting these regular posters' great comments up against such intellectually lazy and morally bankrupt drivel as the "dope" post sends a positive message about us and a negative message about "them" all at once. It's like getting two arguments in our favor for the price of one.On the other hand, I would not be personally offended if you decided to censor such comments, as you have clearly stated that there should be "no flaming" and that you "reserve the right to remove any message for any reason." I just think it might be more effective to leave this marker of hateful stupidity for the record.Just thought I'd add my 2 cents. Dan B
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Comment #7 posted by Symmetric on November 30, 2000 at 12:44:58 PT:

how about..

A new rule: No flamebait.
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Comment #6 posted by FoM on November 30, 2000 at 12:28:15 PT

An Idea

Hi Ben, I know it should be removed but I've never censored anyone's posts. I fix or delete mistakes and I want to make sure I don't get people upset that are totally against censorship because then they will start picking on us here like they do at other places I believe. Maybe a few more people could add their 2 cents and I'll abide by what you all agree too. How about that?Peace, FoM!
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Comment #5 posted by Ben Cohn on November 30, 2000 at 12:23:18 PT:

Dear FoM

Can you edit or omit the #2 comment to this thread, the one entitled "dope"?This comment clearly violate the profanity policy. It's also a stupid message, but that alone isn't enough to censor it.I urge you to enforce the no-profanity policy, if you want it to remain meaningful.PeaceBen Cohn
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Comment #4 posted by Ethan Russo, MD on November 30, 2000 at 12:16:05 PT:

Candidates for Selective Prosecution

If things go according to the usual pattern, Dr. Shapiro and his mom could become targets for selective prosecution for their outspoken approval of demon weed. I hope that will not come to pass. More people need to display this kind of bravery in the face of unjust laws.
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Comment #3 posted by Ethan Russo, MD on November 30, 2000 at 11:44:17 PT:

Now, for Somethign Completely Different

It is a little difficult to follow the 2 previous postings, but, I think that this an important piece. This is a typical example of how prejudices against clinical cannabis fall by the wayside when a family member is facing malignancy. The anti's will never acknowledge that this is real medicine for real people. God forbid that they or a relative gets cancer. They may change their mind, or worse, they may not, and needless suffering will be the result.
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Comment #1 posted by Matt Standing on November 30, 2000 at 11:32:47 PT:

MOM's Marijuana

Wow man your very own cannabis plot coolHey, when can I come over like(not too stereotypical - you may not of realised, but i'm taking the piss)
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