What is marijuana? Marijuana comes from a Mexican and Spanish translation of marijuana. The real term to describe it is cannabis, although the two words can be used interchangeably. Medical cannabis or marijuana is a part of the plant that is used to help treat a number of illnesses by a prescribing physician. Today, marijuana has been around for thousands of years, with early historical evidence linking its use as early as 4,000 BC and its first medical use around 3,000 BC. The first people associated with cannabis use were the Chinese and were in Central Asia. There are 2 common species used for medicinal purposes: cannabis sativa and cannabis indica. The effects vary between different strands, with the indica strain being more known for nighttime use due to its sedative effects, while the sativa strain is used during the day due to the cerebral effect it produces. There are two forms of medical cannabis that can be consumed by a patient: they are called hashish and marijuana. Marijuana is the most common form of cannabis consumption, consisting of the dried, unprocessed leaves and buds of the female plant. The dried leaves and buds can be smoked or vaporized to achieve the desired effect. Hashish, on the other hand, is a concentrated resin from the female plant. It is often more potent than marijuana and can be smoked, vaporized or chewed. Chinese Emperor Shen Nung was the first to describe the medical uses and properties of cannabis in a book he wrote in 2737 BC. After its widespread use in China, it spread to India where a British doctor named William O'Shaughnessy discovered the therapeutic uses of cannabis and wrote a report on it which was later sent back to England. ......5.Koch, Kathy. “Medical Marijuana.” CQ Researcher August 20, 1999: 705-28. Internet. February 28, 2012. Levitt, M.; Faiman, C.; Falcons, R.; and Wilson, A. Randomized, double-blind comparison of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and marijuana as chemotherapy antiemetics. Proc Am Soc Clin Oncol 3:91, 1984. Louie, Wason, and Ryan Wippler. “Marijuana: its role in the medical field. » Alternative medicine. Creighton University Medical Center, February 2005. Web. February 28, 2012Tart, CT Marijuana intoxication: common experiences. Nature 226:701, 1970. “The Medical Marijuana Debate.” Marijuana. Ed. William Goodwin. San Diego: Lucent Books, 2002. 75-91. Drug Education Library. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Internet. February 27, 2012. Vinciguerra V, Moore T, Brennan E. Marijuana inhalation as an antiemetic for cancer chemotherapy. New York State Journal of Medicine 1988;88:525-527.