What is Cannabis?

Cannabis is a flowering plant, which has been used for medicinal purposes since ancient times. It is also known as dope, grass, herb, dried buds, Marijuana, pot and weed. It is a very popular drug and its demand is increasing day by day. It is a psychoactive drug and it has many effects like sedative, pain relief and mental stimulation. Its main active ingredient is THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). It acts on receptors in the brain and affects mood, memory, perception and motor skills. It can also cause psychedelic effects. The effects vary from person to person and they can be short or long-term.

People consume cannabis by smoking it in a cigarette or from a pipe. It is also vaporised in a vape pen and mixed with foods or drinks to make edibles like brownies or tea. Cannabis is very popular for medical use and its extracts are used in medicines such as capsules, oils or tinctures. It is also being researched as a possible treatment for diseases such as cancer, insomnia and anxiety.

Genetic and archaeological research shows that cannabis was first domesticated in Eurasia around 12,000 years ago. It has been used as a recreational drug by many cultures and is mentioned in the oldest written record, Herodotus’s accounts of central Eurasian Scythians taking cannabis steam baths. Cannabis has some therapeutic benefits as an analgesic and the FDA has approved drugs that contain THC, which treat nausea from chemotherapy and increase appetite in patients with AIDS.