Cannabis sativa is an annual plant in the Cannabaceae family.
Humans have cultivated this herb throughout recorded history as a
source of industrial fiber, seed oil, and food. Humans have long
used the plant as a drug, as medicine, and as a spiritual tool.
Each part of the plant is harvested differently, depending on the
purpose of its use.
Its seed, chiefly used as caged-bird feed, is a valuable source
of protein. The flowers (and to a lesser extent the leaves, stems,
and seeds) contain psychoactive and physiologically active chemical
compounds known as cannabinoids that are consumed for recreational,
medicinal, and spiritual purposes. When so used, preparations of
flowers (marijuana) and leaves and preparations derived from
resinous extract (hashish) are consumed by smoking, vaporizing and
oral ingestion. Historically, tinctures, teas, and ointments have
also been common preparations.