Cannabis Definition

Cannabis, also known as “marijuana”, is a genus of flowering herbal plant with three common subspecies: Indica, Sativa and Ruderalis (the latter of which is not well regarded due to its relatively low psychoactive profile). Cannabis was one of the first plants to be spun into usable fibre over 10,000 years ago (known as “hemp”), aiding in the production of various textiles, paper, and biodegradable plastics seen today. It is the most used recreational drug because of its mental and physical effects attributed to the chemical compound found within (tetrahydrocannabinol [THC]). It is also valued as having many medicinal attributes, helping alleviate chronic medical symptoms from insomnia to depression. Cannabis typically produces euphoria-like stimulation often referred to as a “high” or feeling “stoned”, giving its users a heightened mood; however, it does have some negative attributes which include increased appetite, decreased short-term memory, dry mouth, impaired motor skills and feelings of paranoia or anxiety.