Marijuana (cannabis, also hash, hash oil, and hemp)

Marijuana, hash, hash oil, and hemp are different products coming from the Cannabis sativa (cannabis) plant. They all contain, in varying amounts, the psychoactive substance known as delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which is considered a hallucinogen. THC is what makes the user feel "high" but it has many other effects as well.

Also known as: acapulco gold, ace, bhang, bud, california sinsemilla, chronic, colombian, dope (cannabis), doobie, ganja, grass, green, hemp, herb, hippy, indian hemp, hydro, jamaican, jive (sticks), joint, kush, marihuana, marijuana, mary jane, mauie wowie, mexican, panama gold, panama red, pot, ragweed, reefer, sativa, sinse, stink, thai sticks, weed hashish, hash, hash oil, honey oil, and weed oil.

Effects and health risks

The effects of using cannabis or any other illegal drug can be unpredictable. They can vary from person to person and may even vary from occasion to occasion.

The way a person feels after taking cannabis depends on many factors including:

• the user's age
• the user's mood, expectations, and environment
• any medical or psychiatric conditions the user may have
• the amount of cannabis taken (dose)
• the potency (strength) of the cannabis product
• whether the cannabis is smoked or eaten
• how often and for how long cannabis has been used
• the use of other drugs (including alcohol, non-prescription, prescription, and street drugs)

After consuming cannabis, the principal psychoactive ingredient, THC, is absorbed into the bloodstream and travels to the brain and other organs. How quickly THC reaches the brain varies.

After smoking, the effects are felt almost immediately and typically last for one to three hours. After eating, the effects appear within about an hour or two and may last for as long as 12 hours.

THC is stored in fat cells and because of this, it takes a long time for THC to completely clear from the body. This can result in a positive drug test long after the drug has been taken and the effects have worn off.

Short-term effects

As THC enters the brain, users may feel anxious, euphoric (or "high"), and/or fearful. Others may feel relaxed and talkative. Some people enjoy the perceptual distortions produced by cannabis. Other people find these effects to be unpleasant. When first using cannabis, many people do not experience psychoactive effects, but these effects begin to appear with repeated use.

Short-term use of cannabis can produce many other effects including:

• red eyes
• dry mouth and throat
• irritation of the respiratory passages (with smoking)
• spontaneous laughter
• increased heart rate and decrease in blood pressure (may lead to fainting)
• increased hunger (often called "munchies")
• drowsiness
• mild paranoia, anxiety or panic
• psychosis
• impaired reaction time, coordination, and motor skills
• impaired short-term memory

Also, a person could potentially experience:

• visual or other perceptual distortions (for example, seeing colours or patterns that the user knows are not real)
• hallucinations (seeing things that do not exist)
• severe agitation
• disorientation
• abdominal pain

On its own, cannabis intoxication is not lethal. However, cannabis interferes with concentration, perception, reaction time, and coordination. These effects impair a person's ability to drive safely (cars, boats, snow mobiles), pilot aircraft or operate any machinery.

Cannabis and alcohol (and other nervous system depressants such as sedative-hypnotics) can intensify each other's depressant effects. Combined use of these drugs may cause severe impairment of alertness, reaction time, coordination, and motor skills necessary for the safe operation of motor vehicles or machinery.

Long-term health risks

• Breathing problems. Cannabis smoke irritates the respiratory passages. This can lead to bronchitis, especially if used regularly. Cannabis smoke also has some of the same toxic substances found in tobacco smoke, which are known to cause cancer.
• Cognitive impairment. Frequent use of cannabis has been associated with cognitive impairment and a decrease in motivation. Like other illegal drugs, it can interfere with school and job performance.
• Psychosis and schizophrenia. Cannabis use has been associated with an increased risk of psychosis or schizophrenia, especially among individuals who may have a genetic predisposition or a family history of such psychiatric disorders. Psychosis is a short-term disorder characterized by a loss of touch with reality, delusions, and hallucinations, whereas schizophrenia is a long-term psychotic disorder. Cannabis use can also enhance the symptoms of existing schizophrenia and complicate the course and treatment of this disorder.
• Learning problems in children. Subtle learning problems have been reported in young children who were exposed to cannabis in the womb.

Addiction and withdrawal

Cannabis may be addictive. Psychological and physical dependence to cannabis can develop with regular use. Individuals who have developed physical dependence may experience mild withdrawal symptoms if drug use is stopped suddenly.

Cannabis withdrawal symptoms include:

• craving
• irritability
• anxiety
• loss of appetite
• stomach discomfort
• tremors
• sweating
• difficulty sleeping
• nightmares or strange dreams

These symptoms may last for one to two weeks. Sleep disturbances may last longer.

Different forms of cannabis

• Marijuana. Marijuana refers to the dried leaves and flower buds of the plant, but may also include the seeds and stems. The colour can vary from green to grayish-green to brown. It often has a pungent or spicy smell. People most often smoke it in hand-rolled cigarettes (joints, spliffs), in pipes or water pipes (bongs) or wrapped in cigar tobacco (blunts). It is also sometimes cooked with food and eaten.
• Hash. Hashish or hash is made from Cannabis plant resin that is collected and compressed. It can range in colour from blonde to brown to black, and may be soft and pliable or firm and brittle. Hashish that has significant quantities of leaf material in it can also be green. Hashish is generally smoked, but may be eaten like marijuana. It generally contains more THC than marijuana.
• Hash oil. Hash oil, also called cannabis oil, is produced by extracting resins from Cannabis plant material. Cannabis oil is usually a thick, sticky liquid and can range in colour from gold, to red, to dark brown. Cannabis oil is generally smoked. The THC content of hash oil is usually higher than that of marijuana.
• Hemp. Hemp is a type of cannabis with very low THC content and is primarily used for its fibre. Products made from hemp include rope, fabric, paper, food, and cosmetics.
• THC. THC is the principal psychoactive ingredient in cannabis. The amount of THC in cannabis and cannabis products varies widely:
  • In marijuana, the THC concentration generally ranges from 1% to 20%.
  • In hash, it has been found to vary from 2% to 30%.
  • Hash oil generally contains 10% to 20%, but concentrations of THC as high as 70% have been reported. Hash oil is generally considered the most concentrated form of THC. .

The amount of THC in cannabis depends on:

• how the plant was grown (light, soil, and growth conditions)
• the genetic makeup of the plant
• the amounts of flower parts, leaves, stems, and seeds used by the consumer

Combinations of cannabis and other psychoactive drugs include:

• cannabis and heroin: "atom bomb" or "A-bomb"
• cannabis and opium: "OJ" (opium joint)
• cannabis and PCP: "supergrass" or "killer weed"

Using cannabis for medical reasons

Some people may use cannabis for medical purposes and there are pharmaceutical products approved for sale in Canada that contain THC or extracts from cannabis plants. However, cannabis in its plant form has not been approved for medical use in Canada or anywhere else in the world because the safety and efficacy of cannabis for medical purposes has not been clearly and scientifically proven. Canada does, though, have a program that allows seriously ill people living in Canada to possess dried cannabis for their own medical use.

This program allows individuals with the support of a physician to apply for an authorization to possess and use dried cannabis to relieve symptoms from medical conditions such as:

• nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy
• severe pain, anorexia, and weight loss associated with cancer or AIDS
• pain and muscle spasms resulting from multiple sclerosis or spinal cord injuries
• epileptic seizures
• severe chronic pain