Hemp Encyclopedia Article

Hemp

The following sections of this BookRags Literature Study Guide is offprint from Gale's For Students Series: Presenting Analysis, Context, and Criticism on Commonly Studied Works: Introduction, Author Biography, Plot Summary, Characters, Themes, Style, Historical Context, Critical Overview, Criticism and Critical Essays, Media Adaptations, Topics for Further Study, Compare & Contrast, What Do I Read Next?, For Further Study, and Sources.

(c)1998-2002; (c)2002 by Gale. Gale is an imprint of The Gale Group, Inc., a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Gale and Design and Thomson Learning are trademarks used herein under license.

The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Encyclopedia of Popular Fiction: "Social Concerns", "Thematic Overview", "Techniques", "Literary Precedents", "Key Questions", "Related Titles", "Adaptations", "Related Web Sites". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.

The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults: "About the Author", "Overview", "Setting", "Literary Qualities", "Social Sensitivity", "Topics for Discussion", "Ideas for Reports and Papers". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.

All other sections in this Literature Study Guide are owned and copyrighted by BookRags, Inc.

Hemp

The hemp plant, Cannabis sativa, native to Asia, is the source of marijuana, hashish, ganga, and bhang. These drugs contain tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, a psychoactive substance that affects the user's brain, changing the way the user thinks, acts, and feels. Bhang is legally used in India as a medicine, as well as in relaxed social settings for pleasure. In many parts of the world, including the United States, drugs formed from hemp are illegal. A different species or type of the hemp plant produces a fiber used to make rope, floor coverings, and cloth.

See Also

Bhang; Cannabis Sativa;; Hashish; Marijuana.