c21h20o2

1 definition found

c21h20o2 - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  tetrahydrocannabinol \tet`ra*hy`dro*can*nab"i*nol\
     (t[e^]t`r[.a]*h[imac]`dr[-o]*k[a^]n*n[a^]b"[i^]n[add]l), n.
     (Chem. & Med.)
     A chemical substance (C21H20O2) which is produced by the
     hemp plant (Cannabis sativa), and is the physiologically
     active agent of dried preparations of that plant, called
     variously marijuana, hashish, ganja, hemp, etc.; also called
     THC. It causes the euphoric effect for which the
     preparations are smoked or chewed. It is used in medicine in
     a purified form as an antiemetic (an antinausea agent),
     especially in conjunction with chemotherapy of cancer. It
     occurs primarily as the [Delta]1-3,4-trans isomer, also
     called [Delta]9-THC, with small amounts of the
     [Delta]6-3,4-trans isomer detectable at about 1%. It is a
     controlled substance, classified as a hallucinogen, and its
     possession or distribution is illegal in almost all states of
     the United States. --MI11
     [PJC]