the most commonly used illicit drug; considered a soft drug, it consists of the dried leaves of the hemp plant; smoked or chewed for euphoric effect
"Although many cultures use cannabis for its medicinal properties, it remains the most commonly used illicit drug worldwide due to its ability to produce a euphoric effect when smoked."
A tall annual dioecious plant (Cannabis, especially Cannabis sativa), native to central Asia and having alternate, palmately divided leaves and tough bast fibers.
"The botanist studied the cannabis plant's distinctive palmately divided leaves and its durable bast fibers used for rope making."
In plain English: Cannabis is a plant whose leaves and flowers are often used to make drugs that can get people high or relaxed.
"My friend gave me some cannabis to help him relax after his long shift at work."
Usage: Use cannabis as an uncountable noun when referring generally to the drug or the plant material itself. Avoid adding a plural 's' unless you are specifically counting distinct plants growing in a field.
The word entered English via French as a loanword from the Latin cannabis, which itself was borrowed from Ancient Greek kánnabis meaning "hemp." It is considered a doublet with both canvas and hemp, sharing the same ultimate origin but arriving through different linguistic paths.