The difference between cannabis (marijuana) and cannabinoids

Are cannabis and marijuana the same thing?

People often use the words “cannabis” and “marijuana” interchangeably, but they don’t mean exactly the same thing.

• The term “cannabis” refers to all products extracted from the hemp plant.
• The cannabis plant contains about 540 chemical substances.
• The word “marijuana” refers to parts of or products from the plant Cannabis sativa that contain substantial amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THC is the main substance that cannabis affects the mental state of people. Some cannabis plants contain very little THC.

What are cannabinoids?

Cannabinoids are a group of substances found in the cannabis plant.

What are the main cannabinoids?

The main cannabinoids are THC and cannabinoids (CBD).

How many cannabinoids are there?

In addition to THC and CBD, more than 100 other cannabinoids have been discovered.

Does cannabis or cannabinoids help treat health conditions?

Drugs containing cannabinoids may help treat certain rare epilepsy, nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy, and loss of appetite and weight loss associated with HIV/AIDS. In addition, some evidence suggests that cannabis or cannabinoids have a certain effect on chronic pain and symptoms of multiple sclerosis. Cannabis does not help glaucoma.