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Summary

• Cannabis is derived from the hemp plant.
• Although it is not physically addictive, the effects of cannabis are known to be psychologically addictive.
• The active agent THC produces its depressant and mild hallucinogenic effects.
• You cannot die from a cannabis overdose but may experience a state commonly termed 'greening out'. When 'greening out' don’t panic as it will pass, just get someone to keep an eye on you.
• Prolonged cannabis use is associated with increased mental illness, specifically psychosis and anxiety, and when smoked can lead to respiratory illness similar to those seen in tobacco smoking.

What is cannabis?

Cannabis (weed, pot, smoke, grass, herb, hash, ganja, green, marijuana and dope) is a drug that comes from Indian hemp plants including Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica. It is grown all over the world and grows wild in many different climates, although it is often more potent in warmer areas.

In countries where the conditions are not ideal, cannabis is often grown hydroponically. The term hydroponically means the plant is grown indoors using artificial lights and often special fertilisers. Cannabis plants grown hydroponically can have up to twice the level of THC due to the ability to control the conditions they are grown in so closely.

The main active ingredient in cannabis is delta-9-tetrahydrocannibinol, also known as THC. THC is the primary chemical compound which produces the 'high' feeling people experience as a result of their cannabis use. THC is found in varying concentrations throughout the plant.

Cannabis comes in three main forms:

• Marijuana - The dried leaves and flowers (buds or heads) of the plant, ranging in colour from grey-green to greenish brown. It is smoked in either hand-rolled cigarettes (joints) or in water pipes (bongs), often mixed with tobacco. This is the most common and least powerful form of cannabis.
• Hashish (Hash) - Small blocks of cannabis resin, ranging in colour from light brown to nearly black. It can be added to tobacco and smoked or baked and eaten in a range of ways. Hash usually has a higher concentration of THC than marijuana.
• Hash Oil - Thick oily liquid extracted from hashish, ranging in colour from light brown to nearly black. There are a number of ways hash oil is used, including spreading it on a cigarette to be smoked. This is usually the strongest and rarest form of cannabis in Australia.

Classification

Cannabis is generally classified as a depressant; this term refers to the effect of the drug on the central nervous system and not to a user's mood. Depressants slow down messages going between the brain and the body. This type of intoxication may cause slow reaction times, slurred speech and a lower heart rate.

Cannabis is also classified as a hallucinogen - this means that the drug can have mild psychoactive effects such as audio or visual hallucinations.

How is cannabis used?

• Smoked in a hand rolled cigarette (joint): When smoked in joints, the THC is absorbed into the bloodstream via the lungs. Peak effects are experienced in approximately 15 minutes, with intoxication lasting between 2 - 4 hours.
• Smoked through a water pipe (bong): When smoked through a bong, the THC is also absorbed into the bloodstream via the lungs. Peak effects are experienced very quickly, with intoxication again lasting between 2 - 4 hours. The water cools the smoke down, making it less abrasive and harsh on the throat, allowing for more smoke to enter the lungs in one hit. The effects of using cannabis this way are usually stronger than if cannabis is smoked in a joint.
• Ingested (eaten): When eaten, THC enters the bloodstream through the stomach walls and intestines, taking 1 - 3 hours to be absorbed. Although this is often considered the safest way to use cannabis, special care must be taken in relation to dose as there is no way of telling the THC content of the plant you are taking until it takes effect.
• Vaporiser: Vaporisers use a heated element to extract the THC from cannabis as a vapour. The effects of a vaporiser are similar to a bong but as the cannabis is not burnt, it limits the negative side effects associated with smoking. In places that have legalised medical marijuana, this is often the recommended method of taking the drug.
• Pipe: Cannabis can also be smoked through a pipe, although it is more similar to smoking a joint than a water pipe (bong).

Immediate effects of cannabis

Cannabis use can have immediate effects that can last 24 hours after use. These effects can include:

• relaxation
• a feeling of euphoria (happiness)
• a feeling of confidence
• a loss of concentration
• feelings of hunger (munchies)
• red and/or irritated eyes
• wanting to talk and/or laugh more than usual
• losing balance and coordination
• feelings of anxiety or paranoia
• mild hallucinations (seeing/hearing things that are not there)
• nausea
• pain relief.

Effects from regular cannabis use

Research so far suggests the long term side effects of prolonged cannabis use can include:

• Smoking cannabis especially mixed with tobacco can lead to respiratory illness such as such as lung cancer and chronic bronchitis due the large amount of tar in marijuana cigarettes (joints) and water pipes (bongs).
• Reduced motivation and less energy for the things you normally enjoy, such as socialising, work, family and sport.
• Difficulties with memory and attention: It has been shown that cannabis use over the longer term can cause problems with memory, attention and processing of complex information.
• Hormone production can be affected by long-term cannabis use. This can affect a person's sex drive, menstrual cycle and sperm count.
• The immune system can suffer as a result of long-term cannabis use, resulting in more frequent illnesses and longer recovery times.

Cannabis and mental health

Research is still emerging about the impact of cannabis on mental health, and the link between cannabis and mental illness but it does suggest:

• people who use cannabis have a higher than average risk of developing schizophrenia
• if you start smoking cannabis before the age of 15, you are four times more likely to develop a psychotic illness by the time you are 26
• cannabis may contribute to hallucinations and delusions among those with existing mental illness
• regular cannabis use may increase the risk of developing depression.

Is cannabis addictive?

Research so far suggests cannabis is not physically addictive but can be psychologically addictive for some people. Suddenly stopping using cannabis after heavy prolonged use can cause withdrawal symptoms such as having trouble sleeping, irritability, restlessness, loss of appetite and anxiety. These symptoms usually last for around a week but can last longer.

If cannabis is mixed with tobacco when used it is important to keep in mind that the nicotine in the tobacco is highly addictive and will cause withdrawal symptoms the same as normal cigarettes.

Cannabis and the law

• The use and sale of cannabis is illegal everywhere in Australia. However each state or territory has different laws and penalties. These penalties can range from receiving a police caution and/or a fine, to jail time depending on where you are and how much cannabis you have on you.
• It is also illegal to grow or possess cannabis plants in Australia. The penalties for growing cannabis may vary depending on the amount, which state you are in, and what the court decides you intended to do with the plants.
• In some states and territories, the possession and use of small amounts of cannabis has been decriminalised. This does not mean that cannabis use is legal in these places; it means that if you are caught, you may have to pay a fine and are less likely to end up with a criminal record. The territories and states in which cannabis has been decriminalised are Western Australia, the Northern Territory, South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory.