The main active compound in cannabis is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
Street names for cannabis can vary around the country. Bhang, black, blast, blow, blunts, Bob Hope, bush, dope, draw, ganja, grass, hash, hashish, hemp, herb, marijuana, pot, puff, Northern Lights, resin, sensi, sinsemilla, shit, skunk, smoke, soap, spliff, wacky backy, weed, and zero are common. Other slang terms for cannabis are based on where it comes from, such as Afghan, homegrown or Moroccan.
The Effects of Cannabis on Takers
- Some people may feel relaxed and happy, while others have one puff and feel sick or vomit
- It may make some people get the giggles and become overly 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
- A strong "joint' (e.g. skunk or sinsemilla) may have more powerful effects, but users may moderate this by inhaling and using less
- There is evidence of a psychological dependence with cannabis (where there is a desire to keep taking the drug even in spite of possible harm) and this occurs in about 10% of users. There are no physical withdrawal symptoms from cannabis use.
Cannabis is illegal; it's a Class C drug, soon to be upgraded to a class B. If someone is caught with cannabis the police will almost always take action.
Consequences of Being Caught in Possession of Cannabis
If someone is caught with even a small amount of cannabis, he can be arrested. What the police will do depends on the circumstances and how old the person is. Usually, the person will get a warning and the police will confiscate the drug and if under 18, a parent or guardian will also be contacted. The police are more likely to arrest if the perpetrator is smoking in public and/or has been caught with cannabis before. If someone continues to break the law, he can end up with a criminal record which could affect chances of getting a job. It could also affect whether people can visit some countries. The maximum penalty for possession is two years in prison plus an unlimited fine. The maximum penalty for supply is 14 years in prison plus an unlimited fine.
Further Facts About Cannabis
- Drugged driving is as illegal as drunk driving. It can lead to prison, a heavy fine or disqualification from driving
- Allowing people to take cannabis in a 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 offense. Possession is illegal whatever you’re using it for.
Types and Forms of Cannabis – How to Recognise It
Hash is a black-brown lump made from the resin of the plant and is the commonest form of cannabis in the UK. Grass or weed (traditional herbal cannabis) is made from the dried leaves of the plant and looks like tightly packed dried herbs. Less common is cannabis oil, which is dark and sticky and comes in a small jar.
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’.
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).
Some people think cannabis is harmless just because it’s a plant – but it isn’t harmless. Cannabis, like tobacco, has lots of chemicals 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.
Frequent use of cannabis can cut a man's sperm count and suppress ovulation in women. If pregnant, smoking cannabis may harm the baby.
