Which one of the following plants is the source of cannabinoids commonly used in drug abuse?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Cannabis sativa
Option (1) Papaver somniferum — Incorrect. This is the poppy plant. Opioids such as morphine come from its latex, and heroin (smack) is made from morphine.
Option (2) Cannabis sativa — Correct. Cannabinoids act on receptors in the brain. They are taken by inhalation or orally and affect the heart and blood circulation.
Option (3) Erythroxylum coca — Incorrect. This is the coca plant of South America, the source of cocaine.
Option (4) Atropa belladona — Incorrect. It is a plant with hallucinogenic properties, like Datura. It is not a source of cannabinoids.
NCERT Extract:
Drugs and Alcohol Abuse – “Cannabinoids are a group of chemicals (Figure 7.9), which interact with cannabinoid receptors present principally in the brain. Natural cannabinoids are obtained from the inflorescences of the plant Cannabis sativa (Figure 7.10). The flower tops, leaves and the resin of cannabis plant are used in various combinations to produce marijuana, hashish, charas and ganja.”