University of Minnesota professor and plant biologist George Weiblen will present “Lead Us Not into Hemptation” at the St. Anthony Park Garden Club meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 3, at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church Fellowship Hall, 2136 Carter Ave. The presentation will begin at 7:30 p.m. Social time will begin at 7 p.m. All are welcome.
Weiblen’s talk will draw on scientific and historical facts to address common misconceptions about America’s most controversial plant.
Weiblen is one of few researchers permitted by the U.S. government to study the plant. What his research has discovered challenges opinions on all sides of the issue.
Cannabis sativa, a plant cultivated for thousands of years, contains a genomic region responsible for the production of the psychoactive chemical, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). It is this chemical that earned Cannabis its illicit label, “marijuana,” and motivated U.S. lawmakers to outlaw its cultivation more than 70 years ago. The resultant debate to legalize Cannabis involves many social, political and economic issues.
Cannabis took root in America during the 16th century when it was legally grown to produce paper, clothing, canvas and rope for nearly 400 years. In 1937, all forms of Cannabis became illegal to grow in the U.S. with the passing of the Marijuana Tax Act.
To find out more about the St. Anthony Park Garden Club, contact Sandee Kelsey, kelse005@umn.edu or 651-645-9053. You can also find the club on Facebook: facebook.com/SAPGarden Club.
