What it is
Cannabis is a drug that comes from the cannabis sativa plant. Its active compound is Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The higher a plant is in THC, the stronger its effects will be. There are three main cannabis products derived from the plant:
- Marijuana: the most common and least potent form of cannabis. This is the dried leaf and flower (buds) of the plant, and resembles dried herbs. It is mostly green in appearance. Marijuana is usually smoked in hand rolled cigarettes called ‘joints’ or in a pipe or bong. When smoked it also gives off a distinctive smell.
- Hashish: (hash) the dried resins from the cannabis plant compressed into small blocks. Hash blocks can range in colour from gold to nearly black. The concentration of THC is higher in hash than in marijuana, producing a more intense high. Hash is usually smoked or added to baking (for example “hash cookies”).
- Cannabis oil: a thick oily liquid extracted from hashish. It can appear golden brown to black, and is usually smoked. This is the most powerful form of cannabis.
The potency of cannabis can be affected by how it is grown. For example, indoor-grown marijuana tends to be much stronger than that grown outdoors,, primarily because of more standardised growing conditions.
Cannabis is a depressant, meaning that it slows down the messages between the brain and the body. The high from smoking cannabis normally takes effect within minutes and can affect a person for about two to four hours.
Slang
Grass, pot, weed, mull, chronic, dak, hash, smoke, buds, skunk, cabbage, ganja, dope, reefer
