Pubdate: Tue, 05 Jul 2016
Source: Standard-Speaker (Hazleton, PA)
Copyright: 2016 Associated Press
Contact:  http://www.standardspeaker.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1085
Author: Kristin J. Bender, Associated Press

CALIF. POT EXHIBIT AIMS FOR DEBATE ON PROVOCATIVE PLANT

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - It's known as Mary Jane, ganja, Chronic and 
even the sticky icky and has been featured in countless movies, 
including one that warned of its dangers, "Reefer Madness."

Now, marijuana is the subject of a contemporary history and science exhibit.

"Altered State: Marijuana in California," a one-of-its-kind museum 
exhibition focusing on the topic, is open through the summer at the 
Oakland Museum of California.

Set against the backdrop of a California ballot measure this year 
asking voters to legalize marijuana for recreational use, the 
exhibition features artwork, political documents and posters, 
scientific displays, and interactive and multimedia exhibits all 
meant to provoke questions and conversations about the provocative plant.

"We have designed an open and participatory experience to engage 
anyone who has an opinion or wants to learn more about the complex 
issues and information about this topic," said Associate Curator of 
Natural Sciences Sarah Seiter.

"We're interested in presenting a forum for all sides of deep 
community conversations about marijuana, its history, politics, 
culture and impacts on our state," Seiter said.

The exhibit comes at a time when 35 states already have medical 
marijuana laws on the books and four states and Washington, D.C., 
have legalized weed for recreational use.

It is organized into 10 different areas of focus - Cannabis Science, 
Medical Marijuana, Profitable Pot, Sacred Ganja, Criminal Dope, 
Creative Grass, Evil Weed, Politically Loaded, Youth and Weed, and 
Recreational Reefer. It was a two-year project with about 100 collaborators.

"Weed has a lot of fans," Seiter said. "We didn't want to open 
ourselves up to criticism. We wanted to do our homework."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom