n. 1. a grouping of plants containing two genera of erect or twining wind-pollinated herbs, the genera Cannabis and Humulus; this term is not used in all classifications; in some the genus Cannabis is placed in the family Moraceae and the genus Humulus in the family Urticaceae.
Syn. -- family Cannabidaceae, hemp family. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. (Chem.) A poisonous resin extracted from hemp (Cannabis sativa, variety Indica). The euphoric and narcotic effects of hasheesh are due to this resin; the active ingredient is tetrahydrocannabinol, THC. See Cannabis Indica, below. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

a. [ L. cannabinus. ] Pertaining to hemp; hempen. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

‖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 ]