‖prop. n. [ L., hemp. See Canvas. ] 1. (Bot.) A genus of a single species belonging to the order Uricaceæ; hemp. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. The Indian hemp plant plant Cannabis sativa syn. Cannabis Indica. See Cannabis Indica, below. [ PJC ] Cannabis Indica the Indian hemp, now considered a variety of the common hemp (Cannabis sativa), originating in Asia but now grown widely around the world. It can be formed into a tough fiber that is used to make rope and tough fabric. The dried leaves and female flowers are smoked or chewed by people to produce a euphoric or hallucinogenic effect, caused mainly by the substance tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) contained in it. The THC-containing products of Cannabis are classified as a controlled substance, and posession and sale are illegal in most states of the United States. Once classified as a narcotic, the plant is now more commonly referred to in the category of euphoric or hallucinogenic agents. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]
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