cannabis

noun can·na·bis \ ˈka-nə-bəs \

Updated on: 16 Apr 2018

Definition of cannabis

1 : hemp 1a

2 : any of the preparations (such as marijuana or hashish) or chemicals (such as THC) that are derived from the hemp and are psychoactive

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Recent Examples of cannabis from the Web

On Friday, Round Lake Park police stopped a vehicle for speeding around 11:20 p.m. in the 600 block of Hainesville Road and noticed a strong odor of cannabis, according to a statement.

— frank abderholden, Lake County News-Sun, "5 arrested in separate gun-related incidents in Round Lake Park and near Gurnee," 9 Apr. 2018
The appropriations committee narrowly approved a measure calling on state agencies to draft a plan for the legalization and regulation of cannabis.

— jenna carlesso, Courant Community, "Marijuana Proponents Praise Legislative Victory, Ponder Next Steps," 7 Apr. 2018
They were suspected of carrying a large amount of cannabis.

— rafael guerrero, Naperville Sun, "California man brought 52 pounds of marijuana to Naperville on Amtrak train: police," 5 Apr. 2018
But there are people that do have trouble with dependence on cannabis.

— lori nickel, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Former Packers defensive end Cullen Jenkins now turns to CBD oil for pain treatment," 29 Mar. 2018
From Sunday carryout sales to expanding the list of who can purchase cannabis-extract cannabidoil, the General Assembly is considering a number of contentious issues this year.

— kaitlin lange, Indianapolis Star, "More women fighting for 'seat at the table' in Indiana General Assembly primaries," 29 Mar. 2018
Yet another reason to end the prohibition on cannabis.

— matt simon, WIRED, "How Cannabis Tech Can Help Build a Better Cup of Coffee," 27 Mar. 2018
Five or six kilos of cannabis are secreted in false-bottomed suitcases and are smuggled by plane via Amsterdam and Paris to Montreal, where they are sold for £9,000 (approximately $20,000).

— win mccormack, The New Republic, "Outside the Limits of the Human Imagination," 27 Mar. 2018
Thirty states have legalized medical cannabis in some form, covering 64% of the total U.S. population, according to ratings agency Fitch Ratings.

— nour malas, WSJ, "California’s New Pot Laws Face Bumpy Rollout," 24 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cannabis.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of cannabis

Latin, hemp, from Greek kannabis; akin to Old English hænep hemp

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1783

See Words from the same year

Other Drug/Tobacco Terms

controlled, flake, herb, key, sodden

Medical Dictionary

cannabis

noun can·na·bis \ ˈkan-ə-bəs \

medical Definition of cannabis

1 a capitalized : a genus of annual herbs (family Moraceae) that have leaves with three to seven elongate leaflets and pistillate flowers in spikes along the leafy erect stems and that include the hemp (C. sativa)

b : hemp 1

2 : any of the preparations (as marijuana or hashish) or chemicals (as THC) that are derived from the hemp and are psychoactive