What is it?
A bushy plant that is grown in many parts of the world, including the UK. The active drug is called THC. Different types of cannabis come from different parts of the plant and vary in strength. Resin (hashish or hash) is scraped or rubbed from the dried plant and then pressed into brown/black blocks. Most UK resin is imported from Morocco, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Lebanon. Herbal cannabis (marijuana, grass, bush, ganga) is made from the chopped, dried leaves of the plant. Some is home grown, in the UK and other European countries but most is imported from the West Indies, western and southern Africa, Thailand and South America.
Street Names
Names are many and include blow, bush, dope, draw, ganga, grass, hash, herb, home grown, pot, puff, resin, sinsi, smoke, spliff, sputnik, wacky backy and weed. Some names are also based on the country or origin. A cannabis cigarette is often called a joint, reefer or spliff.
How is it taken?
It is usually smoked rolled into a cigarette, often with tobacco. It is also smoked in various pipes, chillims or bongs or between 'hot knives'. It can also be eaten, brewed into a tea or cooked with.
Extent of use
It is by far the most commonly used illegal drug. In the UK more people have tried it and more people use it regularly, compared to other illegal drugs. Over 7 million people in the UK have tried it. Surveys show that in some areas often 50% or more of 16 year olds have tried it. Recent national surveys have shown over 50% of 20 to 24 year olds claiming to have tried it. The UK has particularly high levels of use, with more young people using it than in other European countries, including the Netherlands.
Effects of use
- Effects begin quickly and can last several hours.
- Pulse rate is increased, blood pressure decreased and appetite increased. Users often blood shot eyes.
- The first time, users often say nothing much happens or they feel a bit sick or disorientated.
- Usually people feel relaxed and less inhibited. They may talk and laugh a lot but some people may feel very subdued and even fall asleep. This will partly depend on the mood they are in.
- People often say they appreciate sound and colours more and feel that time is standing still.
- Users often become forgetful about what has just happened or what they have just thought. This stops once the drug wears off.
- Co-ordination may be affected.
- Some users can become very anxious and panicky and start to feel everyone is out to get them. This is more likely if users are inexperienced, already anxious or unstable or take strong varieties or a high dose of the drug.
Risks of Use
- Users cannot fatally overdose and physical dependence does not result from regular use but……..
- Effects on co-ordination increase the risks of accidents, especially if people drive or operate machinery. This tends to be not as bad as alcohol but can still be a problem.
- Lowered inhibitions means some users may have sex which they don't really want or fail to take precautions.
- Regular, long-term smoking may increase the risk of bronchitis and possibly cancers of the lung and digestive system. This may be even more so if it is smoked with tobacco.
- Recent years have seen greater availability of particularly strong types of cannabis. Some users may find them too strong and experience disturbing effects and become very anxious.
- Regular users can become psychologically dependent. They may come to rely on cannabis to get them through the day and feel that they cannot face the world or other people without being stoned.
- People who are constantly using may appear lethargic and slow, lack energy and motivation and perform poorly at work or in their studies.
- It is not true that people who use cannabis automatically go on to other 'harder' drugs like heroin. While most heroin users have used cannabis, the vast majority of cannabis users have never been anywhere near heroin. However, in some areas young people who use cannabis might more readily come across heroin if the people they buy form also sell heroin.
- Some young people think they will not get into to trouble with the law if they use cannabis. Not true. Even when the new law comes in (see below) you could still get a criminal record if the police decide to prosecute. This may bar you from certain jobs (like working with children) and make it difficult to get a visa to visit countries like the USA.
The Law
Until June 2003 cannabis was a class B drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act. It was illegal to be in possession of or supply it to other people and illegal to grow cannabis plants. From July 2003 cannabis became a Class C drug. It is still illegal to be in possession of cannabis, to supply it to other people or to grow cannabis plants. The new arrangements mean that:
- Maximum penalty for possession will be reduced from 5 to 2 years.
- In most cases possession of a small amount will become a
'non-arrestable' offence. In most cases police will probably
confiscate the drug and issue a warning without arresting
People or charging them with an offence.
- Police will have powers to arrest people for possession where there are 'aggravating' factors such as protecting children from adults, where cannabis use results in public disorder or where people use openly in public. The government is also considering retaining powers of arrest for possession cases involving under- 18s and for known repeat offences.
- Maximum penalties for supply have been increased from 5 to 14 years.
