Cannabis. weed : dope : bud : skunk : hash : oil WHAT & WHY?

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1 WHAT & WHY? Cannabis 1 weed : dope : bud : skunk : hash : oil No. 1 in a series of guides to help people understand what drugs are and why people take them SECOND EDITION

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3 What? Cannabis is a bushy green plant whose sap and leaves contain the psychoactive compound delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). It grows in moist, temperate climates.

4 Cannabis has many names. There are different names for cannabis grown in different countries, for different ways of preparing it and for different types and parts of the plant. The different varieties of the plant range from male hemp plants grown for rope making which have virtually no THC through to the highly bred female varieties, such as skunk, that contain as much as 20% THC. To smoke cannabis, users usually mix it with tobacco into a large, hand-rolled cigarette known as a joint. It can also be smoked through devices which increase the amount inhaled and/or cool the smoke (to make it more comfortable to hold in the lungs) or through a pipe. Sometimes it is cooked in biscuits (hash cookies) or cakes (hash cakes). When eaten, the effect is more powerful and less predictable. There is no risk of fatal overdose and it cannot be injected. Cannabis is by far the most widely used illicit drug in the UK. The minimum amount bought is usually 1/16 of an ounce (a teenth ) and costs around 10.

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7 It is true that most people who become dependent on drugs such as heroin or cocaine report that the first illicit drug they used was cannabis. However, this is because it is the most commonly available illicit drug there is no evidence that smoking cannabis, in itself, leads people into taking other drugs. Although heavy use may be linked with lethargy and poor memory, there is no scientific evidence that this is caused by cannabis. However, the belief of many cannabis users that it is a harmless drug is false. Because it is often smoked with tobacco, inhaled deeply and held in the lungs, the lung cancer risks are at least as high as smoking tobacco. Sometimes cannabis induces or exaggerates feelings of paranoia and persecution. Unfortunately, because most users expect cannabis to relax them, they often try to stop these feelings by smoking more. So, although it may not cause mental health problems it can make them worse.

8 Why? Cannabis alters perception. The sensation is usually a pleasant one of general relaxation, a sense of being on the same wavelength as others who are stoned, and heightened sensitivity to colour and sound. Also common are the urge to eat ( the munchies ) and fits of the giggles as ordinary things become very funny.

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11 Experiences of cannabis can vary: the alteration in perception may be subtle (some first-time users report no effects at all) or very powerful, with a sensation of unstoppable waves of intoxication, a strong sense of colours and sounds being different and even (rarely) hallucinations. A person s decision to smoke cannabis is influenced by a number of factors to do with: society the fact that the drug is easily obtained, the number of people using it, the attitudes of the person s peer group to the drug etc; the drug the physical and psychological effects of the drug on the individual (see above) and the person their psychological make-up, history, mood, emotional state, expectations of the drug etc. Trying to understand these different factors is probably more helpful than trying to fit people to theories which say that those who take drugs are victims of peer pressure or different because they have an addictive personality. Cannabis is not a drug that is physically addictive even people smoking large amounts on a daily basis can stop suddenly with no physical withdrawal syndrome. However, people using at these or lower levels may feel that they need to smoke in order to cope with everyday situations. If cannabis becomes part of a way of coping then the risk of psychological dependence, and of moving on to problematic use of other drugs, is higher.

12 Cannabis is usually smoked by people who are part of a social group that sees cannabis use as acceptable (or even normal) and who want to relax and enjoy the company of others.

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14 01 Smoking a joint Photo: David Hoffman Photo Library 02 Cannabis being grown indoors, under lights, in the UK Photo: David Hoffman Photo Library 03 Rolling a joint using dried cannabis leaves ( grass ) Photo: Jamie Baker/Demon Imaging 04 Flowering heads of the female cannabis plant Photo: David Hoffman Photo Library 05 A field of cannabis plants Photo: David Hoffman Photo Library 06 Inspecting the crop Photo: David Hoffman Photo Library 07 Passing a joint Photo: Jamie Baker/Demon Imaging

15 WHAT & WHY? weed : dope : bud : skunk : hash : oil No. 1 in a series of guides to help people understand what drugs are and why people take them SECOND EDITION WHAT & WHY? speed : whizz : base : amphet : sulphate No. 2 in a series of guides to help people understand what drugs are and why people take them SECOND EDITION WHAT & WHY? mdma : E : pills No. 3 in a series of guides to help people understand what drugs are and why people take them SECOND EDITION WHAT & WHY? c : coke : charlie : rocks : freebase No. 4 in a series of guides to help people understand what drugs are and why people take them SECOND EDITION WHAT & WHY? smack : brown : skag : diamorphine : H what drugs are and why people take them SECOND EDITION WHAT & WHY? meth : physeptone : juice No. 6 in a series of guides to help people understand what drugs are and why people take them SECOND EDITION No. 7 in a series of guides to help people understand what drugs are and why people take them SECOND EDITION Written by Andrew Preston What & Why? 1: Cannabis. Second edition. Published by Exchange Supplies. ISBN Exchange Supplies Designed by fluke. Printed in the UK on recycled paper made from 100% chlorine-free post-consumer waste. Responsibility for all errors, omissions and opinions lies with the author. Exchange Supplies is an independent social enterprise producing information and resources to reduce drug-related harm. For more information go to: The What & Why? series covers cannabis, amphetamine, ecstasy, cocaine, heroin, methadone and harm reduction. All titles in the series are available direct from: Exchange Supplies, tel: Additional information on LSD, mushrooms, addiction and motivation are available on our website: Exchange Supplies, 1 Great Western Industrial Centre, Dorchester, Dorset DT1 1RD. Tel: Fax: info@exchangesupplies.org Cannabis 1 Amphetamine 2 Ecstasy 3 Cocaine Crack & 4 Heroin No. 5 in a series of guides to help people understand Heroin Methadone 6

16 What & Why? is a series of booklets for anyone who wants to understand illicit drug use. Illustrated with stunning photography, What & Why? explains what drugs are (how they are made, sold and used), their effects and why people choose to take them. Essential reading for anyone confronted with illicit drug use at home or at work. What & Why? is written mainly for professionals, parents and the relatives and friends of drug users. The booklets may also provide a useful contribution to secondary school discussion about drugs.