Cannabis is the short name for the plant Cannabis Sativa, which has been grown for centuries and is one of the oldest drugs in existence. The plant has been used for paper, clothing, sails for ships, medication and recreation. Marijuana is the dried leaves, flowering tips and stems of the plant.

The chemical in cannabis which causes the ´high´ is THC (Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol). THC is a depressant, affecting the mood and perception of the user, and slowing down the actions, of the brain and the body.

Cannabis is the most widely used illicit drug in Australia.