Romancing Mary Jane: A Year in the Life of a Failed Marijuana Grower

by Michael Poole

A thoroughly engaging and intoxicating blend of metaphysics, marijuana and midlife crisis.

The malaise that besets Michael Poole as he hits middle age is a familiar one. After many years as a successful documentary film producer and director, he finds himself suffering from serious burnout. But the cure Poole prescribes for himself is not so common. Retreating from the demands of the city to a waterfront acreage on British Columbia’s idyllic Sunshine Coast, he throws himself into wholesome the cultivation of marijuana.

Romancing Mary Jane is an intimate, funny and eye-opening depiction of ten months in the life of a neophyte marijuana grower. It is also an entertaining examination of cannabis culture.

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[Conor Rochon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great look at the B.C. marijuana industry just before the end of the millennium. Half the book digs into the culture of dope farming, and includes chapters on: the history of B.C. bud, the lengths farmers have to go to to protect their crops from police and thieves, the varying cultures between indoor and outdoor grow ops, the spiritual history of psychedelic drugs, and other topics that dig deep into pot culture. While most of the information in the book is likely outdated, this is an exploration of a controversial industry in the midst of shifting public opinion. The book tackles it all with an undercurrent of pot activism, but that aspect never dominates the writing— which is all about the interesting things you may not know about growing marijuana.

The other half of the book focuses on the author's own experience during a season of pot farming. These passages read like a kind of natural memoir, where the natural beauty of the B.C. coastal wilderness is in focus. These passages never overwhelm the rest of the book, but serve as a contrast to the high-stakes of criminal enterprise. Romancing Marry Jane clashes the pressures put on those tending the most risky, and rewarding, crop of all against the tranquility of horticulture, growth, and love of the land. And it all makes for an engaging read.

[Dhanamusil · Rating 5 out of 5]

I stumbled across this book at a used bookstore, and since I am writing a memoir along the same vein I decided to give it a read. From the first page I was taken, and had taken a pen to underline the breathtaking prose with which the author writes. I kept sitting up in bed exclaiming in joy of having discovered a new word, or a new use for an old word.
At one point, where he is describing a psychedelic experience, I put down the book and googled the author so I could tell him how very much his book had enhanced my life, only I was saddened to find he has passed.
This is a book I will keep forever, and tell everyone I meet to read. It truly is much like the Walden of our day.

[Gordon Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished reading this book about a failed pot grower on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia. I found it both enlightening and funny. While I'm not a pot smoker, I am interested in the plants as a gardener, as they are very beautiful. The book recalls a year in the life of a fairly small-time outdoors grower and what he learns during the process. Some of the stories told to him by other growers are hilarious!

I think anyone interested in growing plants of any kind or anyone who wonders why seemingly normal people would want to put themselves in jeopardy with the law to grow these plants would like the book. It's an easy read, with little really technical information, and makes good bedtime reading.

I recommend it.

[Nancy Doerrer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Written in 1998, Michael Poole writes about his year of growing marijuana on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia. Information is shared about growing weed, harvesting, protecting plants from animals, police and poachers, finding buyers and dealers, varieties of marijuana, potency and strength, etc. Poole provides a light-hearted view of his difficulties and successes during this one-year sabbatical away from his real job as a producer/director. This is an entertaining read, but is a bit disjointed and only moderately well-written.

[Carly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Looove this book. The atmospheric vibes of the Sunshine Coast area in this book make it like a vacation for your mind while you read. There's also life lessons, humour, and the process of acceptance over things you can't control, as well as the beautiful descriptions of the Westcoast. Highly recommend 💚

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written story of attempting to turn into a marijuana grower in BC. Entertaining.