psychoactive

adjective

psy·​cho·​ac·​tive ˌsī-kō-ˈak-tiv How to pronounce psychoactive (audio)
: affecting the mind or behavior
psychoactive drugs

Examples of psychoactive in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web For the first few years after the bill became law, many hemp producers created products with the cannabidiol (CBD) compound, then moved on to others: first delta-8, then delta-9 THC, which is the psychoactive component of marijuana. Jordyn Noennig, Journal Sentinel, 19 Apr. 2024 In the 2018 farm bill, Congress allowed for the legal sale of hemp, a variety of cannabis plant, which has very low levels of Delta-9 THC, the psychoactive compound that gets people high. Ashley Okwuosa, The Examination; Amy Yurkanin, Al.com; John Diedrich, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, USA TODAY, 18 Apr. 2024 Michael Pool, who owns a store that sells hemp products in Tampa, said the THC limits could affect even products that cause no psychoactive effect. Romy Ellenbogen, Miami Herald, 16 Feb. 2024 Her urine toxicology tests returned positive for only one substance: delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, better known as THC — the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. Julia Michie Bruckner, Discover Magazine, 5 Apr. 2024 Hemp and marijuana are both cannabis plants, but the key difference between hemp and marijuana is the amount of psychoactive compound — known as tetrahydrocannabinol or THC — that each plant possesses. Frank E. Lockwood, arkansasonline.com, 30 Mar. 2024 The Challenge For Regulators But psychoactive drugs present a dilemma for regulators. Sarah Sinclair, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024 Laboratory studies have shown that THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, can cause an increase in inflammation in the blood vessels, so edibles aren’t necessarily risk-free, Wu said. Akshay Syal, M.d., NBC News, 28 Feb. 2024 Some research comparing marijuana cigarettes containing THC (the psychoactive substance in cannabis) to a THC-free placebo found that smoking marijuana with THC led to significantly more symptom improvements. Markham Heid, TIME, 9 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'psychoactive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1959, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of psychoactive was in 1959

Dictionary Entries Near psychoactive

Cite this Entry

“Psychoactive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/psychoactive. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

psychoactive

adjective
psy·​cho·​ac·​tive ˌsī-kō-ˈak-tiv How to pronounce psychoactive (audio)
: affecting the mind or behavior
psychoactive drugs

Medical Definition

psychoactive

adjective
psy·​cho·​ac·​tive ˌsī-kō-ˈak-tiv How to pronounce psychoactive (audio)
: affecting the mind or behavior
psychoactive drugs
THC is the principal psychoactive ingredient in marijuana
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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