Cannabis

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Cannabis, genus containing a coarse, tall, hairy annual herb (see Nettle) that provides fiber from its stems, oil from its seeds, and drugs from its leaves and flowers. The only species of Cannabis, also called hemp or India hemp, is a native of Central Asia but is widely cultivated and found as a weed throughout North America. The plant grows up to 1.8 m (6 ft) tall, with coarsely-toothed, palmately divided leaves and inconspicuous clusters of flowers. Depending on the product desired, the methods and areas of production vary. Hemp is grown mainly in temperate regions. Seeds yield a drying oil used in the manufacture of varnish, paints, and soap. The seeds are also used as bird feed. The fibers have a variety of uses in textiles and in rope. The drugs bhang, hashish, and marijuana contain as their principal component narcotic resins found mostly in the glandular hairs of the plants. These resins are most abundant under hot, tropical conditions.

Scientific classification: The genus Cannabis belongs to the family Moraceae. Hemp is classified as Cannabis sativa.

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