MARIJUANA

pot | weed | hash | doobie | reefer | herb | grass | mary jane | bud | ganja

Pot can be smoked with or without tobacco in a cigarette (or joint), in a regular pipe, or in a water pipe (bong). Marijuana can also be eaten, usually mixed into cookies or cakes.

Source: Both marijuana and hashish come from the Cannabis sativa variety of the hemp plant. People generally smoke the resin content of hemp's leaves and flowers--especially from the female plants. Different strains of hemp produce varied quantities and qualities of resin. Sinsemilla (pot without seeds) can be as potent as hash. THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is the active ingredient of marijuana.

Legal code: Generally illegal, although marijuana has been legalized in some states only for use as a treatment for AIDS, anorexia, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, and the effects of chemotherapy. Physicians risk federal prosecution even in these states if they prescribe it.

History: The cannabis plant has been cultivated for thousands and thousands of years for its fiber and for its healing and intoxicating effects. In the 1800s European artists embraced the drug for its supposed creative powers. Although the cannabis plant has been in America for hundreds of years, it was mainly harvested for fiber to make clothes and rope. It was not until the 1900s that Americans really began to use the cannabis plant as a drug. Marijuana was made illegal in the Harrison Narcotics Act of 1914, though it didn't really hit the public consciousness until the 1920s, during the Jazz Age. The federal government then tried to portray it as an evil weed that would lead to all kinds of deprivation, including other drug use, orgies, and murder.

Effects: Effects vary from person to person, depending on the situation and the amount of THC in the pot. Many people report feeling happy, stimulated, or relaxed at first, followed by a feeling of drowsiness or calmness. Others get tired or headachy immediately. Many people get hungry (the "munchies"). Emotions can swing wildly during a high, depending on what's going on. Hash or high-grade marijuana can have hallucinogenic effects. When pot is eaten, its effects are delayed and can be stronger. Some people report feeling intellectually stimulated and having greater sense perception and feeling more open to emotions. About half of the THC passes out of the body within a day. The rest can stay in your system for up to a month or longer.

Risks: Overdose is not possible. People can get paranoid and anxious. The best treatment for this is generally a reassuring talk from a friend. It is impossible to really understand all the effects of pot, especially the long-term ones, because smoking it releases hundreds of chemicals besides THC, which haven't been fully identified or investigated. Moderate pot smoking can cause short-term memory loss, decreases in attention and concentration, and slowed reflexes. As with tobacco, chronic pot smoking can damage your lungs, mouth, and throat. It may also compromise memory, cause personality changes, and reduce fertility.

Risks for women: Long-term pot smokers may experience irregular periods, which can make it harder to get pregnant. Marijuana may cause serious and permanent damage to an unborn fetus. If you think you may be pregnant, do not take pot in any form!

Risks for teens: Pot affects the brain, though how is not conclusively known. And it may have more damaging effects on brains that are not fully developed.

Do not combine with: Cocaine or heart or blood pressure medications.

Addiction rating: Low.