Weed, pot, grass, hash…there are many names for cannabis, the most commonly used illegal drug in the UK which is prepared from the cannabis plant.
The main active ingredient tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) can give rise to both pleasant and unpleasant effects; with cannabis containing over 400 active ingredients, the side effects vary considerably. Cannabis is a Class B drug; it is illegal to have it in your possession, give it away or sell. It may be used for pain relief but is still illegal in this instance. Cannabis is usually rolled in a cigarette as a ‘joint’ but can be smoked in a pipe, brewed as tea or mixed with food.
Cannabis can create happiness, relaxation, animation and a feeling of being ‘chilled out’. However, cannabis may also cause light-headedness, nausea, hunger, anxiety, panic, paranoia and mild hallucinations. Other potential side effects include changes to heart rate and blood pressure and damage to fertility (It can cut a man's sperm count and can suppress ovulation in women). Smoking cannabis can also make asthma worse or cause wheezing in non-asthma sufferers. Smoking it during pregnancy may increase the risk of the baby being smaller than expected. And, of course, smoking cannabis also exposes users to the toxic chemicals in tobacco smoke.
Regular heavy use may be associated with an increase in the risk of later developing psychotic illnesses including schizophrenia; the use of skunk, a particularly potent kind of cannabis, increases this likelihood. Users may lack motivation and find it makes learning and concentration difficult. Also, with frequent use comes the probability of dependency; withdrawal effects include cravings, agitation, mood changes, sleep problems and appetite disturbances.
Driving whilst high from cannabis is illegal and you may still be unfit to drive the following day. Mixing cannabis with alcohol can be particularly dangerous; you are sixteen times more likely to have an accident after consuming the two together than cannabis or alcohol alone.
Stay safe in 2012 and be aware of the effects of recreational drugs on your body.
Phoebe Hodge
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