Abstract:Cannabis sativa is a plant of genus of Moraceae. It originated in India, and also grows in northeastern, northern, eastern and southern-central areas of China. It is cultivated and grows in Changbai Mountains. C. sativa has a long history of drug use; particularly, its seeds have effects in moisturizing dryness, laxation, treating stranguria, invigorating the circulation of blood, and the major effects in intestinal dryness and constipation, heat strangury, diabetes and irregular menstruation. Chemical components, pharmacological effects, and development and utilization of C. sativa were summarized by referring to relevant domestic and foreign literatures and patents. There are 62 compounds in the leaves, flowers and stems of Cannabis sativa. There are also flavonoids, glycosides, coumarin compounds, terpenoids and sterols, fatty acid compounds, phenanthrene compounds and other compounds. C. sativa and its active ingredients have analgesic, antihypertensive, anti-tumor, anti-vomiting, anti-fear memory, anti-blood pressure, anti-thrombosis, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and other pharmacological effects. In addition, C. sativa, as a folk medicine, is mostly applied in compound drugs, and found in many patents in healthcare products and feeds. According to domestic and foreign researches of C. sativa, this paper summarizes the findings of C. sativa in the aspects of chemical components, pharmacological effects, and development and utilization, in the hope of providing reference basis for further studies and rational utilization of medicinal resources of C. sativa.