What does the OED say Cannabis 2 Orig ellipt for Cannabis sativa or esp indica Any of various preparations of different parts of the hemp plant which are smoked chewed or drunk for their intoxicating or hallucinogenic properties and were formerly used medicinally bhang marijuana ganja and charas hashish are different forms of these preparations and there are many other names Marijuana a A preparation of the plant used as an intoxicating and hallucinogenic drug esp a crude preparation of the dried leaves flowering tops and stem of the plant in a form for smoking The currency of the word increased greatly in the United States in the 1930s in the context of the debate over the use of the drug the term being preferred as a more exotic alternative to the familiar words hemp and cannabis email if I write on your page reply on mine