The Essay: Herb

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Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.

Leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond, themed across a week - insight, opinion and intellectual surprise.

The Essay: Herb: Leaf of Life

Herb

Leaf of Life

BBC Radio 3 - The Essay, Herb, Leaf of Life

Colin Grant looks at the rise of medical marijuana.

Writer Colin Grant looks at the rise, fall and rise again of medical marijuana through the lens of his brother’s epilepsy.

The writer Colin Grant says he carries ‘no lawyer’s brief for marijuana’. Rather, in a landscape in which almost all discussion is polarised, he seeks to explore a range of more nuanced aspects of the drug. 

In this third essay of the series, Colin looks at the issue of medical cannabis. He traces the way in which it fell from favour in the 20th century and is now rising again, despite opposition and, as Colin sees it, institutional intransigence. 

It is a subject with a particularly strong resonance for Colin’s family. When his brother, Christopher, struggled with prescribed epilepsy medication, he discovered welcome relief through cannabis use. Colin looks at recent research studies, delves back into the history of medical cannabis, and asks - if it was good enough for Queen Victoria, then why not his brother?

Producer: Kirsty Pope
A Far Shoreline production for BBC Radio 3

Live music and the arts: broadcasts more live music than any other radio network. Classical music is its core. Genres include world and new music, jazz, speech and drama.

Writer Colin Grant's personal take on the cultural history of cannabis.

In a landscape in which almost all discussion about cannabis is polarised, writer Colin Grant seeks to explore a range of more nuanced aspects of the drug.

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