Get out the popcorn. It's November.

Hemp: it's an incredible useful plant, and has been grown by humans for 12,000 years. You can make lots of things from it. In early America, farmers in some states were even required by law to grow hemp, because the Navy needed the rope. During World War II, hemp growing was encouraged by the government, as today's film will show. In the 19th Century, most schoolbooks were printed on hemp paper, a practical and eco-friendly measure. But in 1970, hemp growing was outlawed. The subject became fraught, as they say. Which is why today's feature is amusing.

But first, let's hear from the Lawrence Welk Champagne Music Makers.

Today's Short Subject: No, it's not that film. You can find that one yourselves, if you haven't already seen it at the uni film club. This is a rarer gem: a duet of One Toke Over the Line sung on the Lawrence Welk Show in 1971.

A word of explanation for those of you who don't know about Lawrence Welk: think of the bandleader in your country who has a show with a large 'family' of performers specialising in down-home, family-friendly jolly-hockey-sticks sing-a-long stuff. That's Welk, a 'sweet band' leader from the 40s who adapted to television by inflicting upon the nation that staple of Lake Woebegone musicality, the Accordion. It's his fault I had to listen to so many horrible renditions of 'Lady of Spain' during my childhood. Many of my contemporaries struggled with this unwieldly instrument, just as German children had to play recorders. Fortunately, my folks had the good sense to purchase a piano.

Anyway, the Welk crew would never have been caught supporting the stoner culture. Obviously, they mistook the import of the words 'sweet Jesus' in the song, and decided it was a spiritual. The rest is musical history. Enjoy. And if that doesn't have you humming that tune all day…

Today's Feature Film: The government-issued Hemp for Victory contains useful tips for growing and harvesting your hemp. They didn't tell you how to do it in the basement. However, if you joined the war effort, you got this handy tax stamp, surely a valuable collector's item. Laws are changing again these days, much to the rejoicing of NORML and Cheech and Chong, no doubt. But this little bit of history is worth a muse or two.