Associated names
Marijuana, Dope, THC, Hash, Pot, Weed, Blow, Black. Shit, Draw, Herb, and at least 100 other different slang names increasingly common are cultivated strains such as Skunk and Super Skunk.

 

Appearance
Cannabis comes in two common and one more rare form. The commonest forms are Resin or Herbal, less common is Oil.

Resin Cannabis plants contain and exude resin which, when collected and compressed, forms hard blocks. These may range in colour from black, dark brown, through to light brown. Cannabis resin may have a distinctive sweet, cloying smell. It may be soft and malleable, crumbly, or very hard.

Herbal cannabis is composed of small dried leaves, dried flowering heads, or a mixture of the two. Dried leaves look much like dried herbs, flowering parts are often either yellowish or purple, and may be dusted with pollen.

Oil is much less common in this country but can be very strong and contains no solid matter. It usually comes in small vials, and is a light brown, golden colour.

 

Legal status
Herbal Cannabis and Cannabis resin are class B drugs, Cannabis oil is class A.

 

Costs
Cannabis pricing has been relatively stable for a long time, though it does experience wild fluctuations at times of shortage. Cannabis pricing is usually by weight, though small amounts may be sold in £7.50 to £8 measures or ‘teenths’ (slang for 16th of an ounce). Typically, an ounce of resin sells for between £60 and £120.

 

Quality
THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) is the active chemical, and the more of this that is present, the stronger the cannabis. Some cannabis is very strong and in others, the THC content is negligible. The heavily-cultivated strains, such as Skunk, are very high in THC.

The other major concerns are products that have been cut, and contain little or no cannabis at all. Dried leaves, mixed herbs or any other leafy produce may be passed off as herbal cannabis. Mixtures of wax, henna, plastic or liquorices have been passed off as cannabis resin.

 

Methods of use
Cannabis is primarily either smoked or taken orally (eaten or drunk). Smoking can be done in joints, pipes, or through paraphernalia such as hot knives or bottles. Cannabis in joints is often smoked with tobacco, though herbal cannabis can be smoked on its own.

The cannabis is placed in cigarette papers, and, if used, tobacco is added. A cardboard cylinder ("a roach") is added, and the prepared joint is smoked. Some people prefer to use small pipes, in which a small amount of cannabis resin or herbal cannabis are placed and smoked. With hot-knives, a small pellet of resin is placed between two kitchen knives, which have been heated up, and the vapour inhaled.

Cannabis can be mixed into food or drinks It may be made into cakes. When smoked, the effects of cannabis take effect within a few minutes. Absorption though the stomach is slower and can take up to an hour.

 

Effects
The effects of cannabis are not always very clearly defined. Some users report little or no effects, and others experience very intense effects. Certainly, effects are often dependent on the experience and expectations of the user, and the setting and mood at the time of use.

The following symptoms are most frequently recorded at moderate dosages; some may or may not be present, relaxation, tiredness, light-headedness, hilarity, excitability, nausea, anxiety, redness of the eyes, enhanced appreciation of sound and colour, increased appetite, and paranoia.

Unwanted side effects such as nausea, palpitations and anxiety are sometimes made worse by alcohol. Users of high THC 'skunk', can experience hallucinations.

 

Health implications
Smoking cannabis, especially with tobacco, carries health risks. These relate to lung damage, especially bronchial problems, and an increased risk of lung and throat cancers. Using cannabis regularly can cause short-term memory loss, and de-motivation, apathy or restlessness. While it is not physically addictive, people can and do become psychologically dependent, and find stopping smoking difficult.