Marijuana

Other names: Blow, Dope, Draw, Ganga, Gear, Grass, Hash, Pot, Skunk, Weed.

It is a mix of leaves, seeds, and flowers of a plant called Cannabis sativa. It can be green, brown or grey. It’s the most abused illegal drug. It is said that marijuana is the drug that serves as a door to stronger drugs, because its use makes it easier to try other drugs.

Cannabis is a psychoactive (alters mental functions) drug because it contains THC, a chemical in the marijuana plant. It also contains more than 400 other chemicals. It is usually smoked in a hand-rolled cigarette called a joint, reefer or spliff. It can also be consumed in food or drink.  

What does it do to you?

Marijuana is a mild depressant, which means it makes you feel relaxed, talkative and friendly. This lasts between one and two hours. The down part comes when you feel worried, and lose your concentration and short-term memory. It leaves you hungry and tired, and with a dry mouth and fast heartbeat. Strong batches of marijuana can make you feel paranoid and even give you hallucinations. There are also the dangers associated with smoking, such as bronchitis and lung cancer.  Frequent smokers have cough, and frequent colds. It is possible to become mentally dependent on marijuana.

• Short term effects:
• Memory and learning problems.
• Distortion of  visual, auditory and tactile perception, and also distortion of time perception;
• Problems thinking clearly and problem solving
• Less physical coordination
• Anxiety and accelerate heartbeat.

These effects are more serious when marijuana is mixed with other drugs. Many times, the person doesn’t even know what other drugs have been added to marijuana.