Cannabis sativa

Cannabis sativa L., (=Cannabis indica Lam.), the Indian hemp or marihuana, Cannabidaceae, (see the photograph of a herbarium specimen) is one of the species with the most ancient uses in India. Clandestinely cultivated as narcotic plant (74 countries have officially prohibited its cultivation), this species is a native of central Asia but is now naturalised in the sub-Himalayan tract and abundant in the wastelands from Punjab to Bengal, Bihar and extending southwards to Deccan. The variety cultivated in India, acclimatised for the hotter climate and considered superior, is sometimes referred to as Cannabis sativa L., var. indica Lam.

Cannabis is the most popular but illegal inebriant, next to alcohol. The intoxicant ability lies in the resin containing the sweetish cannabinoids, secreted by all parts of the plant but most in the female tops.

Cannabis drugs are generally smoked. Charas consists of the resinous exudates collected from the leaves. Bhang consists of the dried leaves. The more potent form is powdered leaves and the female tops moulded in the resin, called hashish or ganja. It is called marihuana in north America. In the olden days political murderers used to consume hashish before killing the victims and hence called assassins, a name derived from hashish.

The plant is used as a tonic, intoxicant, stomachic, antispasmodic, analgesic, narcotic, sedative, anodyne and antibacterial. It was used as an antidote to snake venom, to treat malaria and black water fever.

Consumption of cannabis induces a state of euphoria, intellectual excitement, and indifference to surroundings, then illusions, loss of the notion of time and space, hallucinations, lack of co-ordination of movements and drowsiness but not complete unconsciousness. The psychosomatic effects are more rapid when smoked than when ingested.

Toxic effects of cannabis include lack of activity, insomnia, headache, nystagmus, susceptibility to infections, gastro-intestinal disturbance, sexual impotence and personality changes.

The fruits edible. The stems yield a fibre.

The chemistry and pharmacology of Cannabis sativa have been investigated extensively. For a detailed information the specialist publications should be consulted. Cannabinol, pseudocannabinol, resin and cannin are present in the plant. The Egyptian variety contains cannabidiol, cannabol and cannabinol. The alcoholic components are responsible for the intoxicant activity. Choline and trigonelline are also found in the plant.

There is a state sponsored prohibition of cultivation and consumption of cannabis throughout the world on account of not just the narcotic effects but addicting properties of the species. Recently there are some second thoughts about permitting a limited and controlled use as medicine in certain disease states, where it is useful.