AKA: Marijuana, grass, dope, draw, puff, blow, weed, gear, ganja, herb, wacky baccy, skunk, hash, hashish, pot
What is it?
Cannabis comes from the Cannabis Sativa plant and is usually taken by smoking either the plant’s dried leaves or compressed resin mixed with tobacco.
Most users smoke cannabis in hand-rolled cigarettes (AKA joints, spliffs, biftas, reefers), pipes or bongs (devices used to cool the smoke).
Sometimes it’s added to foods (such as cakes or biscuits), drunk in tea, or taken as an oil, which is also usually smoked with tobacco.
How does it make you feel?
You might feel more cheery or become more talkative and less shy.
You could get 'the munchies', where you feel like you’re really hungry, and you might start laughing a lot.
Less enjoyable effects are dry-mouth, dizziness and a pounding heart. It might make you panicky, paranoid, depressed, unmotivated, forgetful and unable to keep track of time (minutes seem like hours and vice versa). It can also cause hallucinations.
What are the health effects?
Most of the health effects are the same as tobacco smoking: lung cancer, heart disease, bronchitis, and so on. Some doctors believe cannabis can help treat certain illnesses such as multiple sclerosis and Aids, and to relieve pain.
Cannabis isn’t addictive, but it can become a strong habit which is difficult to break.
The law
Cannabis is a class C drug.
If you're under 18 and caught with cannabis you will be arrested. The maximum penalty is a two year prison sentence but in less serious cases you will receive a reprimand or warning.
If you're caught selling cannabis to other people (supplying), you could face up to 14 years in prison.
Further help and advice
• Talktofrank.com
• Thesite.org
• Addaction.org.uk
• Adfam.org.uk
•
Radio 1 OneLife
Or you can call Childline on 0800 1111 (free) or The Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90 (cost of a local call) 24/7 to talk about your problems.
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Pictures posed by models.
