College of Biological Sciences

March 4 

Clearing the air around Cannabis

Cannabis has been classified as a controlled substance under federal law since 1970. The plant’s outlaw status hampered research and disrupted cultivation of Cannabis used for hemp fiber. But Cannabis wasn’t always flora non grata. The US Army encouraged hemp cultivation in Minnesota during the second world war and perceptions of the high-flying drug-type Cannabis have shifted dramatically in recent years. Now, laws restricting Cannabis are in flux across the country and the popularity of Cannabis derivatives such as CBD oil is on the rise. We’ll explore how we got here and where we may be going as our understanding of the plant’s properties expands.

Panelists include:

• George Weiblen, McKnight University Professor, Plant and Microbial Biology
• Ann Philbrick, Associate Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Care and Health Systems
• Sade Spender, Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Program starts at 7 p.m.
Location: Urban Growler Brewing Co. Light appetizers provided. Cash bar.
In collaboration with the Bell Museum.

PURCHASE TICKETS

April 8

Personalized medicine as panacea

Imagine a world in which the makeup of your individual genome would help physicians pinpoint the very best course of treatment for a wide range of diseases. Diagnoses would be more accurate and therapies would be tailored to you. It’s an appealing idea that underpins a growing movement toward personalized or precision medicine, but it also raises numerous questions scientific and social. Is our current understanding of genetics adequate to the undertaking? Are we ready and willing to shoulder the potential costs associated with personalized medicine? What does success look like given the current state of the art? Join us as we explore challenging questions about the future of individualized care.

Panelists include:

• Bonnie LeRoy, Professor and Director - Graduate Program of Study in Genetic Counseling, Genetics, Cell Biology and Development
• Pamala Jacobson, Professor and Director, Institute of Personalized Medicine & Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Program starts at 7 p.m.
Location: Urban Growler Brewing Co. Light appetizers provided. Cash bar.
In collaboration with the Bell Museum.

PURCHASE TICKETS