How it affects you
- It’s a stimulant, depressant and hallucinogen.
- It can make you relaxed, giggly, hungry, and appreciate sound and colour more.
- You may feel anxious and paranoid.
- The effects can be unpredictable.
Other names
Marijuana, hash, pot, weed, blow, gear, black, draw, herb, skunk, soap.
Is it legal?
- Class B.
- Possession carries a maximum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment and a fine.
- Trafficking carries a maximum sentence of 14 years’ imprisonment and a fine.
The risks, signs and symptoms
- Smoking cannabis, especially with tobacco, can cause lung damage, with an increasedrisk of lung and throat cancers.
- Regular use can cause short-term memory loss and make you feel demotivated andlistless.
- There’s an increased risk of mental health problems such as anxiety and paranoia, whichcan last into adult life.
- It interferes with learning so you’ll find it harder to study and work.
- Side effects such as nausea, palpitations and anxiety are sometimes made worse byalcohol.
- If you become dependent you’ll find stopping difficult due to symptoms such as sleepdisturbance, vivid dreaming, mood swings, irritability and possible aggression, headache,and tiredness.
- Cannabis can stay in your body for up to 30 days so you can show up positive in drugtests some time after your last use.
How you can reduce the risks
- The only way to fully reduce the risks from cannabis is to not take it.
- If you’re feeling anxious or paranoid, try to reduce your use and speak to a drug workeror a doctor.
- If you eat cannabis it takes longer to have an effect, so don’t be tempted to take more.
- Avoid breathing too deeply or trying to hold the smoke in your lungs too long, it does not get you more stoned but does cause more damage.
- Use as few cigarette papers as possible when rolling joints and use a cardboard roach.
- Mixing with any other substances increases the risks, so avoid alcohol if you smoke cannabis as this can make you nauseous.
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