SafePlants

Cannabis (Cannabis sativa): An Overview

Cannabis sativa, commonly known as marijuana and by various other names like chocolate, hash, shit, ganja, weed, reefer, and grass, is a preparation of the Cannabis plant used as a psychoactive drug or for medicinal purposes.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature:

• Scientific Name: Cannabis sativa
• Common Names: Marijuana, chocolate, hash, shit, ganja, weed, reefer, grass
• Family: Mentions of "hemp" plant suggests the family Cannabaceae, though not explicitly stated

Morphological Characteristics:

• Marijuana is described as a green, brown, or gray mix of dried, crumbled parts from the marijuana plant.
• It consists of dried, shredded leaves, stems, seeds, and flowers of the hemp plant, Cannabis sativa.

Distribution and Habitat:

• Historically, hemp (the source of marijuana) was cultivated in America, with George Washington growing it at Mount Vernon.

Considerations for Pets

• The plant consists of dried leaves, stems, seeds and flowers.

Interactions with Other Organisms:

• The text mentions that marijuana smoke contains a similar range of harmful chemicals to tobacco smoke, including bronchial irritants, tumor promoters, and carcinogens.

Further Information:

• NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws)
• Marijuana Business Daily
• YouthFacts
• WebMD
• Marijuana.com
• The New York Times
• American Lung Association

Quirky Facts:

• George Washington grew hemp at Mount Vernon.