Drug Fact Sheet: Marijuana/Cannabis
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Marijuana/Cannabis WHAT IS MARIJUANA? What is its effect on the mind? Marijuana is a mind-altering (psychoactive) When marijuana is smoked, the active ingredient drug, produced by the Cannabis sativa plant. THC passes from the lungs and into the Marijuana has over 480 constituents. THC (delta- bloodstream, which carries the chemical to the 9-tetrahydrocannabinol) is believed to be the main organs throughout the body, including the brain. ingredient that produces the psychoactive effect. In the brain, THC connects to specific sites called cannabinoid receptors on nerve cells and WHAT IS ITS ORIGIN? influences the activity of those cells. Marijuana is grown in the United States, Canada, Many of these receptors are found in the parts Mexico, South America, Caribbean, and Asia. of the brain that influence: It can be cultivated in both outdoor and indoor • Pleasure, memory, thought, concentration, sensory and settings. time perception, and coordinated movement What are common street names? The short-term effects of marijuana include: Common street names include: • Problems with memory and learning, distorted • Aunt Mary, BC Bud, Blunts, Boom, Chronic, Dope, perception, difficulty in thinking and problem-solving, Gangster, Ganja, Grass, Hash, Herb, Hydro, Indo, Joint, and loss of coordination Kif, Mary Jane, Mota, Pot, Reefer, Sinsemilla, Skunk, Smoke, Weed, and Yerba The effect of marijuana on perception and coordination are responsible for serious What does it look like? impairments in learning, associative processes, Marijuana is a dry, shredded green/brown mix and psychomotor behavior (driving abilities). of flowers, stems, seeds, and leaves from the Long term, regular use can lead to physical Cannabis sativa plant. The mixture typically is dependence and withdrawal following green, brown, or gray in color and may resemble discontinuation, as well as psychological addiction tobacco. or dependence. Clinical studies show that the physiological, How is it abused? psychological, and behavioral effects of Marijuana is usually smoked as a cigarette (called marijuana vary among individuals and present a joint) or in a pipe or bong. It is also smoked in a list of common responses to cannabinoids, as blunts, which are cigars that have been emptied described in the scientific literature: of tobacco and refilled with marijuana, sometimes • Dizziness, nausea, tachycardia, facial flushing, dry in combination with another drug. Marijuana is mouth, and tremor initially also mixed with foods or brewed as a tea. • Merriment, happiness, and even exhilaration at high doses Marijuana Leaves • Disinhibition, relaxation, increased sociability, and What is its effect on the body? talkativeness Short-term physical effects from marijuana use • Enhanced sensory perception, giving rise to increased may include: appreciation of music, art, and touch • Sedation, bloodshot eyes, increased heart rate, • Heightened imagination leading to a subjective sense of coughing from lung irritation, increased appetite, and increased creativity increased blood pressure (although prolonged use may • Time distortions cause a decrease in blood pressure). • Illusions, delusions, and hallucinations are rare except at high doses Marijuana smokers experience serious health • Impaired judgment, reduced coordination, and ataxia, problems such as bronchitis, emphysema, and which can impede driving ability or lead to an increase in bronchial asthma. Extended use may cause risk-taking behavior suppression of the immune system. Withdrawal • Emotional lability, incongruity of affect, dysphoria, from chronic use of high doses of marijuana disorganized thinking, inability to converse logically, causes physical signs including headache, agitation, paranoia, confusion, restlessness, anxiety, shakiness, sweating, and stomach pains and drowsiness, and panic attacks may occur, especially in nausea. inexperienced users or in those who have taken a large Withdrawal symptoms also include behavioral dose signs such as: • Increased appetite and short-term memory impairment • Restlessness, irritability, sleep difficulties, and are common decreased appetite Marijuana Concentrates What are its overdose effects? medicinal purpose, it is the U.S. Food and Drug No deaths from overdose of marijuana have been Administration that has the federal authority to reported. approve drugs for medicinal use in the U.S. To date, the FDA has not approved a marketing Which drugs cause similar effects? application for any marijuana product for any Hashish and hashish oil are drugs made from clinical indication. Consistent therewith, the FDA the cannabis plant that are like marijuana, only and DEA have concluded that marijuana has no stronger. federally approved medical use for treatment Hashish (hash) consists of the THC-rich in the U.S. and thus it remains as a Schedule I resinous material of the cannabis plant, which controlled substance under federal law. is collected, dried, and then compressed into a Marinol is a synthetic version of THC in variety of forms, such as balls, cakes, or cookie a capsule (also referred to as dronabinol, like sheets. Pieces are then broken off, placed in the generic or International Nonproprietary pipes or mixed with tobacco and placed in pipes Name given to THC), prescribed for the or cigarettes, and smoked. control of nausea and vomiting caused by The main sources of hashish are the Middle chemotherapeutic agents used in the treatment East, North Africa, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. of cancer and to stimulate appetite in acquired Hashish oil (hash oil, liquid hash, cannabis immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients. oil) is produced by extracting the cannabinoids Marinol is a Schedule III drug under the from the plant material with a solvent. The color Controlled Substances Act. and odor of the extract will vary, depending on Syndros is an oral dronabinol (THC) solution the solvent used. A drop or two of this liquid on that is used for the treatment of anorexia a cigarette is equal to a single marijuana joint. associated with weight loss in patients who have Like marijuana, hashish and hashish oil are both failed to respond adequately to conventional Schedule I drugs. antiemetic treatments. Syndros is a Schedule II drug under the Controlled Substances Act. What is its legal status in the United States? Epidoloex is an oral solution of cannabidiol Marijuana is a Schedule I substance under the (CBd) that has no more that 0.1% THC, used to Controlled Substances Act, meaning that it has treat two epilepsy conditions, Dravet syndrome a high potential for abuse, no currently accepted and Lennox-Gestaut syndrome. Epidoloex medical use in treatment in the United States, and is a Schedule V drug under the Controlled a lack of accepted safety for use under medical Substances Act. supervision. Although some states within the United States have allowed the use of marijuana for .