What is cannabis?
Cannabis sativa, also known as hemp, is a species of the Cannabinaceae family of plants. Cannabis contains the chemical compound THC (delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol), which is believed to be responsible for most of the characteristic psychoactive effects of cannabis that leads to the “high” that is experienced when cannabis is consumed. However, not all components of cannabis are psychoactive.
- The dried leaves and flowers (buds) of the cannabis plant are known as marijuana, which can be smoked (through a pipe or bong, hand-rolled into a joint, or consumed in an edible (for example, cookies, brownies, gummies).
- The resinous secretions of the plant are known as hashish, which can be smoked or eaten.
- The fiber of the cannabis plant is cultivated as industrial hemp with uses in textile manufacturing.
Compounds which have a structure similar to THC are known as cannabinoids.
