Cannabis: Different forms of cannabis are made from different parts of the cannabis plant. It comes in a solid dark lump commonly known as resin or hash; dried leaves, stalks and seeds known as grass or weed and also a brown or black sticky oil. Cannabis can be rolled with tobacco in a spliff or joint, smoked on its own in a special pipe or eaten.
There are different strengths of cannabis – skunk is the generic name often used to describe a potent form of the cannabis plant. In fact, skunk is only one of 100 or so varieties of cannabis plant which have high levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THC is the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis.
Street Names: dope, pot, spliff, hash(ish), marijuana, Mary Jane, weed, puff, grass, herb, wacky tabacky, ganja, hemp, skunk, 420, etc.
Taking Cannabis: Cannabis resin is usually mixed with tobacco and smoked in joints. It can be smoked using a bong which is a kind of water pipe, eaten, for example baked in cakes, or drunk in warm drinks. In high doses or with stronger types of cannabis (for example skunk) there may be nausea, hallucinations and anxiety or paranoia, especially in people already feeling anxious or depressed. Using bongs is more harmful than joints because you breathe in more of the drug and smoke.
Effects: Cannabis has a number of different effects. It is classed as a sedating and hallucinogenic drug. Its effects can turn out to be pleasant or unpleasant. Taking cannabis can make people feel chilled out, relaxed and happy, and they may get the giggles or become very talkative. It can make you more aware of your senses, and the hallucinogenic effects can even give you a feeling of time slowing down. It can make you feel very hungry – this is sometimes called ‘getting the munchies’. Some people have one or two drags on a joint and feel light-headed, faint and sick. This is sometimes called a ‘whitey’. Cannabis may cause feelings of anxiety, suspicion, panic and paranoia.
Sex and Cannabis: Some say cannabis makes you feel horny. The drug can heighten feelings of touch and sound. If the dose is too high, its tranquilizing effects get in the way of sex. Sex might seem to last longer as time may seem to slow down. The drug relaxes and lowers inhibitions. Orgasms may seem less intense but more sensual, and felt not just in the dick. There can be a stronger sense of connection to the other man, with sex being more ‘touchy feely’. But the drug can make people feel withdrawn and less interested in sex. Long-term use can lower sex drive: some studies show it lowers levels of the male hormone testosterone. Smoking cannabis with tobacco carries the same increased rates of erection problems seen in tobacco smokers.
First Hand Accounts:
Brandon: I just want everyone to know that you shouldn’t believe all the propaganda that the government comes up with about cannabis, I’ve been smoking cannabis since I was about 13, it has not affected me in anyway, I’ve never had a bad experience with it. I smoke it pretty much every weekend, sometimes during the week, the only thing that it’s done to me is made me put on a few pounds by eating too much. I’ve had a good education and I have many friends who have been smoking for the same amount of time, in some cases longer, and they too are not affected in the ways you may hear. My friends accept that I smoke it and in most cases smoke it with me, I’ve never lost friends over it, and it’s never damaged my relationship with my family in any way. The stigma against cannabis smokers is quickly depleting, in today’s society its worse if you smoke cigarettes.
Kyle: Last time I smoked weed was one of the worst nights of my life. I don’t like tobacco and I have smoked weed a few times in the past and quite enjoyed it- it was relaxing. I am by no means a regular smoker. So I decided to roll a joint that was packed with weed and had a little bit of tobacco in it when a friend gave me some weed. This was a bad mistake. I felt as if I wasn’t aware of time, I kept looking at the clock and it seemed like I had done a million things within the space of under a minute. I would keep getting up and walking to my lights and turn them on, then get into bed, then go and turn them off and get back into bed… id check the clock and then realize it hadn’t moved. I then panicked as I laid in bed and tried to figure out if I had even turned the lights on in the first place. I then snapped back into reality to tell myself I’m in a bad trip and I’ve smoked weed, so I need to calm the fuck down.
Intended for informational purposes only. Some information in this article was sourced fromwww.tripproject.ca and drugs-furum.com The Trip? project now provides a service called TRIP!Wire, a text service that allows anyone to directly asks questions about drug usage. Text your questions to (647)822-6435 [standard text message rates apply] but keep in mind responses take 12-24 hours. For drug related emergencies such as overdose don’t hesitate to contact 911.
