|
|
|
|
Please note: The information provided here is
for entertainment and educational purposes only and is not intended
to be viewed by minors. The owners of the site do not condone or
promote the use of cannabis.
cannabis
(spliff, marijuana, ganja, weed, hash, skunk,
blow, puff, 'erb etc.)
Cannabis is naturally occurring substance that can act as a
relaxant and mild hallucinogenic.
When smoked, the effects are usually felt fairly quickly with people
feeling more relaxed, happy and generally laid back.
Strong cannabis can also lead to pointless giggling, loss of
inhibitions and an enhanced appreciation of music and colours.
Marijuana has also been reported to ease the pain, nausea and
vomiting in advanced stages of cancer, AIDS and other serious
illnesses.
Like most drugs, the effects of the drug can vary wildly from one
person to another, with factors like where you are, who you're with
and your general state of mind all influencing the experience.
Most cannabis is pretty mild, although recent varieties such as
skunk, northern lights and purple haze can have a very strong - and
sometimes hallucinogenic - effect.
Cannabis can be smoked with or without tobacco, filtered through
water, cooled or inhaled using all manner of drug paraphernalia, or
simply eaten. If eaten, it's hard to calculate when it will take
effect - especially if you've wolfed down a Billy Bunter sized
Vegeburger beforehand.
The physical effects of too much dope can result in bloodshot eyes,
a dry mouth and sloth-like reflexes and some people have reported
feeling anxious and paranoid after a heavy session.
Side effects: For many, smoking dope is as natural and
everyday as a brew of hot tea, and they find the drug helps make
their life a little less stressful without unduly affecting their
judgement or abilities.
For others it can have quite the opposite effect, turning ordinary
folk into unbearable, spaced out, lazy hippies. A night of
industrial strength spliffing can transform you into a giggling oaf
who will burst into laughter at wholly unamusing incidents and find
deep intellectual depth in the Spice Girls' lyrics.
Your trousers and sofa will become riddled with burn marks from
dropped spliffs, and you will have to face the regular dilemma of
being hit with the munchies at 3am only to find that you were too
out of it to get the shopping in.
This can result in regular users turning into lazy gits whose crap
diet turns their body into a most unattractive proposition.
Health risks: Most of the health risks associated with
cannabis are those linked with the tobacco it's usually smoked with.
There have been suggestions that there is an extremely low risk of
developing bronchitis or lung cancer from smoking cannabis resin by
itself, although a $2 million study by the National Toxicology
Program in the US "found absolutely no evidence" in these claims
The acute toxicity of cannabis and the cannabinoids is very low;
no-one has ever died as a direct and immediate consequence of
recreational or medical use.
Official statistics record two deaths involving cannabis (and no
other drug) in 1993, two in 1994 and one in 1995 but these were due
to inhalation of vomit. Animal studies have shown a very large
separation (by a factor of more than 10,000) between
pharmacologically effective and lethal doses.
Although it is widely accepted - even in most Government and legal
circles - that the occasional use of cannabis is most certainly no
more dangerous than socially accepted drugs like alcohol and
tobacco, possession still remains an offence in most countries.
The main findings from an official report from the Advisory Council
on the Misuse of Drugs (UK) are:
High use of cannabis is not associated with major health problems
for individuals or society.
Occasional use of cannabis is only rarely associated with
significant problems in otherwise healthy individuals, with the main
worry being impaired control of your movements. It can also disrupt
the control of blood pressure and increase the risk of fainting.
However, occasional use can pose significant dangers for those with
heart and circulation disorders and for those with schizophrenia.
Regular heavy use of cannabis can result in dependence but its
addictive potential is far less than amphetamines, tobacco or
alcohol.
Cannabis impairs mental functions such as attention, memory and
performance and so can be dangerous for drivers and those who
operate heavy machinery but, unlike alcohol, it does not increase
risk-taking behaviour.
The birth weight of children whose pregnant mothers smoked joints
might be lower than expected due to carbon monoxide in the smoke.
They also run a small risk of minor birth defects.
Cannabis is less harmful than other class B substances including
amphetamines, barbiturates or codeine-like compounds.
Detection periods: Cannabis can be detected in the urine up
to 2-7 days after casual use and up to 30 days after heavy use.
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
