THE EFFECTS

• Some people may feel chilled out, relaxed and happy, while others have one puff and feel sick.
• Others get the giggles and may become talkative. 
• Hunger pangs are common and are known as ‘getting the munchies’.
• Users may become more aware of their senses or get a feeling of slowing of time, which are due to its hallucinogenic effects.
• Clearly a stronger ‘joint’ (e.g. skunk or sinsemilla) may have more powerful effects, but users may moderate this by inhaling and using less.

CHANCES OF GETTING HOOKED

There is some psychological dependence with cannabis (where there is a desire to keep taking the drug even in spite of possible harms) and this occurs in about 10% of users. There are no physical withdrawal symptoms from cannabis use.

If you’ve only been using for a short while there should be no problem stopping but with continued regular use of cannabis, this can become more difficult. You’re also at risk of getting addicted to nicotine if you roll your spliffs with tobacco.

THE LAW

• Cannabis is illegal; it’s a Class C drug.
• If you’re caught with cannabis the police will always take action. 

Possession:

• If you’re caught with even a small amount of cannabis on you, you can be arrested. What the police will do depends on the circumstances and how old you are.
• Usually, you’ll get a warning and the police will confiscate the drug and if you’re under 18, your parent or guardian will also be contacted.
• The police are more likely to arrest you if: you are blatantly smoking in public and/or have been caught with cannabis before.
• If you continue to break the law, you can end up with a criminal record which could affect your chances of getting a job. It could also affect whether you can go on holiday to some countries.
• The maximum penalty for possession is two years in prison plus an unlimited fine.

Supply:

• Dealing is a very serious offence.
• In the eyes of the law, this includes giving drugs to friends.
• People who grow cannabis in their homes or carry large amounts on them also risk being charged with intent to supply.
• The maximum penalty for supply is 14 years in prison plus an unlimited fine.

Did you know?

• Drug driving is as illegal as drink driving. You could go to prison, get a heavy fine or be disqualified.
• Allowing people to take cannabis in your house or any other premises is illegal. If the police catch someone smoking cannabis in a club they can prosecute the landlord, club owner or person holding the party.
• Using cannabis to relieve pain is also an offence. Possession is illegal whatever you’re using it for.

APPEARANCE AND USE

Recently, there have been various forms of herbal or grass-type cannabis that are generally found to be stronger than ordinary ‘weed’, containing on average 2-3 times the amount of the active compound, THC. These include ‘sinsemilla’ (a bud grown in the absence of male plants and which has no seeds), ‘homegrown’, ‘skunk’ (which has a particular strong smell) and ‘netherweed’.

These are forms of herbal cannabis often grown from selected seeds by intensive indoor methods (e.g. using hydroponic methods, artificial lighting etc.) to optimise their potency.

Most people mix cannabis with tobacco and smoke it as a spliff or a joint. Some people put it in a pipe. And others make tea with it or stick it in food like cakes or ‘cannabis cookies’.

COST

Prices can vary from region to region. The prices given here are an average of street prices reported from 20 different parts of England.Grass is usually more expensive than resin (hash), with stronger forms tending to be more expensive (e.g. ‘skunk’ at £200 per ounce).

PURITY

Some unsuspecting people have been known to buy blocks of mud, stock cubes and garden herbs from people pretending to be dealers.

The most impure cannabis is called ‘soap bar’. It’s contaminated with all sorts of things. This makes it cheaper but it’s often harder to get very stoned.

It’s not actually possible to tell whether a particular sample of ‘skunk’ or ‘homegrown’ or ‘sinsemilla’ will have a higher potency than an equal amount of ‘imported herbal cannabis’ – because the actual potencies of different products overlap substantially.

The potency of herbal cannabis decreases over time in storage and is affected by what parts of the plant have been included in the product. Hence, a user has little guarantee about the ‘intensity of the high’. Also, it has been found the intensity of the smell of skunk appears to be no guide to the actual strength either.

THE RISKS

• Even hardcore smokers can become anxious, panicky and suspicious.
• It affects your coordination, which is one of the reasons why drug driving is just as illegal as drink driving.
• Some people think cannabis is harmless just because it’s a plant – but it isn’t harmless. Cannabis, like tobacco, has lots of chemical ‘nasties’, which can cause lung disease and cancer with long-term or heavy use, especially as it is often mixed with tobacco. It can also make asthma worse.
• Cannabis is risky for anyone with a heart problem as it increases the heart rate and can affect blood pressure.
• There’s also increasing evidence of a link between cannabis and mental health problems such as schizophrenia. If you’ve a history of mental health problems, depression or are experiencing paranoia, then taking this drug is not a good idea.
• Frequent use of cannabis can cut a man’s sperm count and suppress ovulation in women. If you’re pregnant, smoking cannabis may harm the baby.
• Regular, heavy use makes it difficult to learn and concentrate.  Some people begin to feel tired all the time and can’t seem to get motivated.
• Some users may want to buy stronger herbal cannabis to get ‘a bigger high’ but unpleasant reactions can be more powerful when you use stronger strains, and stronger varieties may lead in time to more severe dependence or more severe mental health effects.

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