FACTS ABOUT CANNABIS (MARIHUANA, HASHISH AND HASH OIL)

Cannabis is now the second most popular drug used by youth. Marihuana, hashish and has oil are all from the cannabis plant. The active drug in cannabis, THC (delta-9-tetrahydro-cannabinol), changes the mood and distorts the perceptions of the user. It is more concentrated in hash and particularly has oil than in marihuana. As with any illicit drug, the exact strength of the drug can vary. The tar content of cannabis smoke is much higher than that of tobacco.

The strength of marihuana has increased in the last twenty-five years. Different growing procedures have allowed producers to grow a marihuana that has substantially higher levels of THC, the active ingredient.

Marihuana affects the ability to judge distances and slows reaction time. Because of the impairment of judgement, coordination and concentration, marihuana use impairs the ability to perform complex tasks, such as driving a car.

Heavy and/or prolonged use can lead to physical or psychological dependency on the drug. Because marihuana compounds remain present in the body for considerable time, many people experience a delay in the onset of withdrawal symptoms after they stop using the drug. While withdrawal from marihuana is not life threatening, many people find it uncomfortable and disruptive or even distressing.

Methods of Use:

• Marihuana comes from the dried tops, leaves, stems and seeds of the plant and somewhat resemble the herb oregano. It is smoked in pipes or in hand-rolled cigarettes, called "joints" or filled into hallowed-out cigars called "blunts". It is sometimes cooked in foods or baked goods
• Hashish is a dried, caked resinous substance, found as soft or hard chunks, which range in colour from "blonde" to black. It is usually mixed with tobacco and smoked in pipes or joints
• Hash oil is an oily extract, usually stored in small glass contained called vials

Cannabis Paraphernalia (Equipment and Accessories):

• Small smoking pipes, often ornate, made of metal, wood, stone or plastic
• Rolling papers which can be plain, coloured, decorated or flavoured
• Water pipes, called "bongs", that are made with hollow cylinders or round bulbs or bubbles or a combination of the two
• Homemade smoking and water pipes made from pop cans or bottles
• Small "baggies" or sealable plastic bags for holding the dried leaves
• T-shirts, jewellery, hats and other accessories with pictures of a stylized cannabis leaf or with reference to "420" or other slang terms

Short-term Effects of Using Cannabis:

• the person will get a "high" feeling, often becoming more relaxed and talkative, and less concerned about what he does or says
• the person's pulse rate, heart beat and blood pressure will rise
• the person's eyes may get red
• after a while, the person will become quiet and sleepy
• if the person is drinking or using other drugs as well as cannabis, he or she will not be able to think clearly and his or her behaviour may change
• short-term memory, concentration and ability to think clearly will be impaired
• with larger doses, the person may feel that sounds and colours are sharper or distorted; his thinking may become slow and confused
• if a very large dose is taken, the person may become confused, restless, excited; he may start seeing things and become anxious or panicky

Long-term Effects of Using Cannabis:

• regular, heavy use of cannabis will make the person dependent on the drug
• the person may lose interest in activities, his or her ability to learn may be affected
• the person may also get infections more easily because of harm to the immune system
• the person may develop chronic bronchitis and other major lung diseases because cannabis smoke contains up to 50 percent more tar and cancer-causing chemicals than tobacco cigarettes
• the person's level of sex hormones may decrease

Risks of Cannabis:

• Pesticides and other chemicals used in the process of growing marihuana may not be properly removed before it is sold and these can make the users very sick
• Other drugs can be added to the joint, producing very unexpected experiences for the user
• The level of the active ingredient, THC, can vary wildly and with higher levels, even practiced users can experience unexpected feelings of anxiety and dizziness
• Used along with alcohol or other drugs, marihuana adds to the effects of the other drugs, often in ways the user does not anticipate
• It is easy for someone who has no problems using marihuana occasionally to begin use on a regular basis without noticing the changes caused by increased use

Street Names/Terms:

• pot, ragweed, dope, ace, Colombian, Mary Jane, spliff, hemp, weed, Thai sticks, ganja, "J" or jay, B.T., grass, reefer, bong, Acapulco Gold, doobie, sinse, hash, hydro, skunk
• "roach" is the remainder of the marihuana cigarette, or "joint"
• "roach clip" is any device, which holds the end of the cigarette
• "420" is a popular code for cannabis and cannabis lifestyle