22/05/2007 00:00:00
UK: Cannabis that can be worn, not smoked
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Cannabis plants have been put on display at the Chelsea Flower Show to
educate visitors about the uses plants can be put to.
A special licence was required to grow the plants and to show them at
the Royal Horticultural Society’s premier event. It was claimed to be
the first time that cannabis plants have been at the show but, to the
disappointment of many intrigued visitors, the variety on display is
different to the one popularly known as weed.
The Cannabis sativa plants are the strain better known as industrial
hemp and were being shown to illustrate the uses of plants in modern
society.
They have been carefully cultivated to be rid of any hallucinogenic or
medicinal qualities and are grown strictly for their fibre. The fibres
can be used as an alternative to cotton and as horse blankets. They are
also regarded as a highly efficient insulator for homes.
Hallucinogenic varieties, those kept away from Chelsea, are thought to
have medicinal qualities and are undergoing trials in the hope that they
can be offered as a prescription drug to ease the pain of cancer and
multiple sclerosis patients.
The decision to display cannabis was taken by the South East England
Development Agency which wanted to show the uses of plants other than
for gardens and food crops.
The cannabis specimens will not be offered to the public as part of the
traditional plant sell-off on Saturday.
Comments
http://property.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/property/gardens/chelsea_flower_show/article1821585.ece
Source:
http://www.ukcia.org/news/shownewsarticle.php?articleid=12568
Author:
Times OnLine via UKCIA
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