Cannabis is one of the most widely grown plants in the world. Cannabis grows wild and is cultivated in many countries; however, the most powerful strains of cannabis sativa are now grown in the United States. Derived from cannabis are marijuana, hashish, and hashish oil. Marijuana is the most widely used and readily available drug comprised of dried leaves and flowers of the cannabis sativa plant, better known as the hemp plant.
In traditional Indian medicine, the ayurvedic names of cannabis are “vijaya” – ‘the one who conquers’ and “siddhi” – ‘subtle power’, and ‘achievement’. It is called ma in traditional Chinese medicine.