Cannabis (/ˈkænəbɪs/) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Cannabaceae. The number of species within the genus is disputed. Three species may be recognized: Cannabis sativa, C. indica, and C. ruderalis. Alternatively, C. ruderalis may be included within C. sativa, all three may be treated as subspecies of C. sativa, or C. sativa may be accepted as a single undivided species. The genus is widely accepted as being indigenous to and originating from Asia.
Image 8Evolution of cultivated cannabis strains. The cultivar, Cannabis ruderalis, still grows wild today. (from Medical cannabis)
Image 9The Chinese character for hemp (麻 or má) depicts two plants under a shelter. Cannabis cultivation dates back at least 3000 years in Taiwan. (from History of cannabis)
Image 10Cannabis female flower with visible trichomes (from Cannabis)
Image 11The use of cannabis, at least as fiber, has been shown to go back at least 10,000 years in Taiwan. "Dà má" (Pinyin pronunciation) is the Chinese expression for cannabis, the first character meaning "big" and the second character meaning "hemp". (from Medical cannabis)
Image 46The Ebers Papyrus (c. 1550 BCE) from Ancient Egypt has a prescription for medical marijuana applied directly for inflammation. (from Medical cannabis)
Image 47Dense raceme of female flowers typical of drug-type varieties of Cannabis (from Cannabis)
Image 48Illustrating various forms of medicinal cannabis (from Medical cannabis)
The GermanBundestag votes to legalise recreational usage of cannabis for adults, making Germany the third European country to do so after Malta and Luxembourg. (CNN)