Hemp

Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.), also known as marijuana, is a coarse, rough-stemmed annual herb which is a species of the Cannabaceae family. It is well-known for its cultivated use as a source of fiber used for rope material, religious use, as well as for spiritual and medicinal purposes.

Leaves: Hemp leaves are distinctive, with each leaf having 5 to 7 long, pointed, slender, coarsely toothed leaflet sets, that appear opposite on the lower part of each stem. It produces light green oval flat fruit and very small, green flowers. The plant has a herbaceous strong smell and taste.

Toxic components
Hemp contains more than 60 active compounds, or cannabinoids; the most important include delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabinol, cannabidiol, cannabinolic acid, cannabigerol, cannabicyclol, and various tetrahydrocannabinol isomers, The concentration of delta-9-THC in a sample depends upon the genetic structure of the plant, local conditions of growth, storage methods and time elapsed between harvest and use. Symptoms become apparent within 30 - 120 minutes, reaching a peak after 2 - 3 hours. In horses, the tar produced by hemp is more carcinogenic than that of tobacco. If ingested by pregnant mares, the cannabinoids within the plant may also affect the newborn foal.