Cannabis

Marijuana can lead to a relaxing high, intense laughter, increased appetite, and an intensification of bodily sensations, including sound, taste, and touch.

Some possible risks with 'pot' use are:

• Lung damage: Many people who use marijuana smoke it, and often inhale more deeply and hold the smoke in their lungs for a greater period of time than tobacco smokers. As well, marijuana smoke tends to be hotter when it reaches the lungs than tobacco smoke.
• Injury: Marijuana, especially in high doses, can impair coordination. Risk of injury when driving or engaging in other physically complex tasks may be increased as a result.
• Dependence (addiction): Long-term daily use of marijuana may lead some users to become dependent.
• Brain Changes: Research to-date suggests that marijuana use does not lead to permanent changes in memory, cognitive function, or learning. Some research suggests that long-term use may have an impact on the user's ability to organize and integrate complex information. Research suggests that being high on marijuana does not impair the retrieval of information learned previously. However, in high doses marijuana may interfere with the user's ability to transfer new information into long-term memory.

Drug Class: no specific class

Individual drugs: low-grade marijuana (<1% THC), high-grade marijuana (4-8% THC), hashish (7-14% THC) hash oil (up to 50% THC)

Common Terms: cannabis, ganja, green, herb, leaf, marijuana, mary-jane, pot, skunk, weed

Consumption and Standard Dose:

• smoked or ingested
• rolled as "joints" and smoked. Also smoked through pipes, bongs, hookas and other devices
• can be prepared in butter or oil and cooked directly into food

The Buzz:

• initial relaxation, stimulation and elevation of mood with enhanced sensations and appetite
• later drowsiness and sedation

Overdose and other negative effects:

• higher doses may lead to mild hallucinations, anxiety or paranoia
• reddening of eyes and dryness of mouth
• mouth, throat and lung damage when smoked
• Research suggests that when high on marijuana, people driving cars are less attentive to traffic signals, have a slowed braking time, and are less responsive to unexpected events or tasks that require on-going attention.
• Research to-date suggests that marijuana use does not lead to permanent changes in memory, cognitive function, or learning. Some research suggests that long-term use may have an impact on the user's ability to organize and integrate complex information. Research suggests that being high on marijuana does not impair the retrieval of information learned previously. However, in high doses marijuana may interfere with the user's ability to transfer new information into long-term memory.
• There is limited evidence that marijuana use creates physical dependence or withdrawal in humans. However, many who seek out treatment for substance abuse identify their marijuana use as being psychologically dependant.

Dangerous Drug Combinations:

• possible interactions with heart and blood pressure medications as marijuana increases heart rate.

  

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