Mom's Marijuana: Life, Love, and Beating the Odds

by Dan Shapiro

A young man battles Hodgkin's disease and survives--with more than a little help from his Mom--in this wry and uplifting memoir about life, love, and beating the odds.

When Dan Shapiro's decidely anti-drug mom put aside her convictions and grew marijuana in her backyard garden (behind a discreet screen of sunflowers), he learned that in the face of a crisis we all have the opportunity to decide what is most important to us. In this hilarious, high-spirited, sometimes harrowing memoir, Shapiro invites us into his battle with cancer, his romance with an oncology nurse, his journey through graduate school, and his most important life lessons. He tells his story with wit and grace and indomitable spirit, showing us that only when the rhythm of life is stirred violently are able to discover its full beauty.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Medicine, Book Club, Medical, Biography Memoir

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The personal memoir of Dan Shapiro, who was diagnosed with Hodgkins disease at 20 years old and survived the fight to tell about it. When Dan Shapiro's very anti-drug mom put aside her convictions and grew marijuana in her backyard garden (behind a discrete screen of sunflowers), he learned that in the face of a crisis we all have the opportunity to decide what is most important to us. In this memoir, Shapiro invites us into his battle with cancer, his romance with an oncology nurse, his journey through graduate school, and his most important life lessons. At the time that I read this book I was working with cancer patients as an oncology pharmacist and found this memoir a funny, important peek into the life of my patients. A great read.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was not sure what I would think about this- whether it would be so much self-aggrandizing rhetoric or a great read; Turned out I really enjoyed it. You do not have to have (or had) any type of cancer to see yourself in these people's lives, but it does lend a certain perspective. Despite the title, this memoir is not all about smoking pot to handle pain and nauseau, but it does entertain that issue in an honest and humorous way. I recommend this to everyone.....

[David Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mom’s Marijuana: Life, Love, and Beating the Odds by Dan Shapiro (Vintage Books 2000) (610.92) (4054).

Before Dan Shapiro wrote this book, he had written and read an essay on National Public Radio in 1997 called “Marijuana Mom” about being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Disease (cancer) at the age of twenty. When the effects of chemotherapy and radiation made him deathly ill, he mentioned to his virulently anti-drug mother that he was going to try marijuana to seek relief from the radiation sickness. His mother vehemently opposed this idea until she saw how desperately ill the side effects of the chemotherapy and the radiation made him.

When his mother, who was a talented backyard gardener, realized how expensive marijana was on the “black market,” she quickly changed course and offered to grow some marijuana in her garden bed for her son’s use. As author Dan Shapiro later reported, when they discovered that the marijuana reduced his suffering and made his chemo and radiation side-effects tolerable, his mother grew “...more marijuana than I could have used in a lifetime.”

I remember being strongly affected while listening to Dan Shapiro read the essay which told the foregoing story on National Public Radio. Like Dan Shapiro, I had been diagnosed with (and had survived) a deadly cancer as a college student in 1979. I was touched by Shapiro’s tale, and I have searched haphazardly for the book in the intervening years since I heard the radio recitation.

A short time ago, my daughter finally located for me the Dan Shapiro book which contained the essay. As it turned out, the essay I heard on NPR in 1997 was NOT from a book. It was a simple essay at the time which Shapiro later turned into the instant book Mom’s Marijuana: Life, Love, and Beating the Odds by Dan Shapiro (Vintage Books 2000).

It turns out that this is a beautiful book, but it’s not really about marijuana at all. The only mention of marijuana in the book is the title tale. This is actually a cancer-recovery memoir, and Shapiro has perfectly captured and encapsulated the range of emotions that arise when one is confronted with their own mortality at an early age.

I was particularly moved by three short chapters: “Water Medicine” (pp. 86-91), “Parole” (pp. 97-106), and “Sergio’s Very Last and Only Free Haircut” (pp. 149-151). These chapters reminded me that emotional trauma never really goes away; these chapters brought tears to my eyes almost fifty years after I was pronounced as cancer free. I commend these chapters to interested readers.

Thank you Dan Shapiro.

I purchased a used PB copy of this book on Amazon in like-new condition for $6.23 on 5/30/26.

My rating: 7.5/10, finished 6/19/26 (4054).

PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP

[Elizabeth Tonon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engaging, thoughtful and heartfelt!

I started reading this, thinking it would be a story about how a young man dealt with his mom’s use of marijuana. At first, the witty humor seemed to lead into that direction, making me laugh out loud. Later, though, it turned into a heart wrenching description of one person’s confrontation with almost certain death, the different ways that he coped or didn’t cope with it and how the experiences changed and even enriched his life. There were still surprisingly many moments where the author had me laughing out loud despite the very serious underlying issues with which he dealt. I would most highly recommend this book for anyone who is interested to learn more about facing adversity and hopefully coming out on top!

[Irisis OM Wolfe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a well writen touching memoir. Read almost like a novel but knowing it's a real person you truly feel for his battles and his wins and completely root for him. The memoir was funny at times and other times hit right in the feels. I loved it. I think Dan Shapiro has two other books and I am looking forward to reading those as well. 10/10 would recommend.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spoiler alert - it's not about marijuana. It's about one young man's journey through diagnosis and treatment of cancer and about finding hope and connection in the smallest of interactions. Very touching and extremely funny. And full disclosure - the author was my boss at the U. of A. Dept. of Psychiatry :D

[Judith Cenkus · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite true stories!

[Debbie Willer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a great look at living life with cancer. I'm sure it could apply to many other diseases as well. Loved his section on how he just needs the doc to give him a hope 'fix'. So true.

[Hollie B · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ✨️

[Homaira · Rating 5 out of 5]

This gorgeously written memoir had me laughing out loud on one page and choking back sobs the next. I've read my share of memoirs, particularly "misery memoirs," but this book was different. This book was a work of art, brimming from cover-to-cover with beautiful language, heartwrenching descriptions, and passages of flowing poetry disguised as prose. What's more amazing is how this author developed his narrator's voice throughout the course of the book, from a sprightly 20-year-old college kid to a jaded, weathered 25-year-old 3-time cancer survivor. The narrator's character development, in fact, was comparable with many renowned works of fiction - except this wasn't a work of fiction! The fact that anyone could survive so many years of horror and still make it through college, grad school, marriage, etc. astounds me, and I am so glad I had the opportunity to read his personal story.
Oh yes, and one last point: the "mom's marijuana" thing is more of a symbol than the literal focus of the book. This book has no political agenda. It's a cancer memoir. On a related note,

I had the pleasure of watching one of Dr. Shapiro's talks/performances live at my medical school. Later that afternoon, my phone conversation with my dad went something like this:
Dad: How was medical school?
Me: It was great! Our professor talked to us about how his mother grew marijuana in his backyard so he could have something to smoke during his cancer treatment!
Dad: ...
Me: It's true.
Dad: I thought I was sending you to medical school... [awkward silence]

Overall: 5 stars. I wish all memoirs were so insightful and so beautifully written. I wish all the best for this brave survivor and his family.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the title of this book might attract folks looking for a humorous book about how a mother surreptitiously supplies her son with marijuana while he's treated for cancer, it's really a book about living with and through cancer. It's a beautifully written book...certainly full of both humor and pathos. And yes, his mother does grow and supply him with pot to combat the effects of his chemo treatments. Dan describes his initial diagnosis through his second relapse and everything in between with incredible honesty. He sees it from both the perspective of a patient and also from the medical professional side, going through these treatments himself while working towards his PhD. It's a celebration of life and a reaffirmation for all to enjoy life every day.

[Pixie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun book. Sort of a lighter-hearted catalogue of one cancer patient's journey. It was nice in that it was light-hearted, but still dealt with the serious stuff, of course.

I wouldn't read this book if you have cancer or your husband has cancer, as was my case. A relative, bless her heart, sent it to me thinking it would be helpful to me. It was nice, at first, to get some perspective, but it scared the heck out of me as I kept reading, and the last thing I needed was more anxiety. I would read it if you have a friend or someone close to you who has cancer, as long as it's not a situation that might leave you dead or widowed.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A frank account of the author's battle with cancer as a young adult - it manages to be gutwrenchingly honest and remarkably funny. Dan Shapiro has a great conversational style to his writing that intimately engages you in his story. If you didn't know of his triumph in the face of unthinkable odds, this story would be almost too raw and unbearable. But knowing that today he is a father, a loved husband, a respected academic - you can squirm through his adolescent discomfort as him mom insists on collecting sperm samples, rally his medical setbacks and know that he triumphs in spite of, and as a result of, his cancer.

[Laurie Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Mom’s Marijuana: Insights about Living” by Dan Shapiro is the unique memoir of a man who survived Hodgkin’s Disease, including two relapses. Through multiple courses of chemotherapy, radiation, and a bone marrow transplant, Shapiro writes of his journey not only to endure, but to prevail. Don’t let the title mislead you. This book is not about a mother’s drug habit, but about how a mother’s love can lead her to do the unthinkable to ensure her son’s survival, and the son who lives to have his own family and appreciate that kind of love. Few memoirs are so well-written and compellingly crafted.

[Caroline · Rating 2 out of 5]

Shapiro's memoir recounting his multiple relapses of Hodgkin's Disease as a young 20-something was truly remarkable and inspiring. Unfortunately his offhand humor was over-used and tended to distract from the seriousness and ulttimate impact of his story; a little could have gone a long way. The choice to break up the book into sections almost like vignettes also tended to be confusing. However, all in all, Shapiro created a cancer story that has that rare happy-ending and left the reader hopeful and inspired.

[Genevieve · Rating 5 out of 5]

A friend of a friend wrote this. Somehow that made me feel more connected. We were reading it aloud and as I read it I started crying. At that point in my life I rarely cried. Seriously, maybe once or twice a year, because in my mind it indicated some kind of weakness. But I couldn't help it, this book touched me so much. And I was surprised by it, but not embarrassed or ashamed. That may not seem like a strong recommendation, but it is.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

haven't run across very many guy written memoirs written by survivors. i was expecting some rah rah "i fought cancer and won" story. it was very eloquently written. he is much further along in his recovery than i am so i identified with it and it even explained some of the emotions i was feeling as a male survivor. there is plenty of stuff out there for women, but the dudes... we're on our own.

[Leana Uys · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having had my own battles with CA, I found certain descriptions very true. For instance, the section where he described how he enjoyed remembering the "bad times" in order to compare the current much better situation with it. I find myself doing the same - wanting to say to people "You have no idea how bad I was just months ago!" One does not want to forget, since the wonder of the second chance lies in rembering.

[Michelle Acuna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. I love this man. This is about a guy who, at 18, got Hodgkin's. He banked sperm. He went through 2 transplants. He is now a psych MD and married a nurse. They've had 2 kids with the sperm he banked. He's a prof at UMC in Tucson. I worked with him on a program for PONS and he was my keynote speaker. Lovely, lovely man.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

i heard dan shapiro speak at an oncology nurses' meeting in san diego. he was fabulous. this is a great book and helped me deal with my patients a little better. it's always good to get their perspective...not just the medical know-what's-good-for-you perspective.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Account of the author's struggle with Hodgkinson's Disease. Sometimes funny, as when his mom grows marijuana in her suburban garden to alleviate the symptoms of chemo. Sometimes gut wrenching, as a young person deals with an ailing body.

[Lael · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a gem of a little book. It's both heartbreakingly funny and sad, but in the end a fantastic tribute to the human spirit.

[Adrienne]

I heard this guy speak at a conference where he essentially recited excerpts from his book. His story made me cry and laugh at the same time. A great fast read.

[Cws]

610 Sha

[Jeanette · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best of this genre - read it even if you never had cancer or a life threatening disease. Funny, uplifting, life affirming and well written. What more can you ask?

[Jennifer D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Life of a cancer patient. Moving, thoughtful

[Kitty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Authors account of his battle with Hodgkinson's Disease and his refusal to give up hope even when given a 5% chance of survival. Great read.

[Wombat0355 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book for discussion -

[Gretchen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the writing and the book made me laugh and made me weep (on the Red Line to and from work)I highly recommend this book.

[Katie Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book. While it is really a memoir of his struggles to overcome this disease, it is in many ways a wonderful tribute to his parents, wife and daughters. You will laugh and cry!