This course will provide students with an essential grounding in the science of cannabis. The course will start with a historical context for the use (and misuse) of cannabis in Canada and around the world. The second focus will be on the nature of the genus Cannabis, its species, and its numerous constituents. A particular emphasis will be placed on delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), the two most commonly studied cannabinoids. As cannabis is a psychoactive drug, the third focus will be on its effects in the brain.