The 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]