cannabis

Cannabis is a drug that comes from the Cannabis sativa plant. It is the most commonly used illicit drug in New Zealand. The active chemical in cannabis is THC (Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol). The more THC cannabis contains, the stronger it is. Cannabis is a depressant drug. Depressant drugs do not necessarily make the person feel depressed. Rather, they affect the central nervous system by slowing down the messages going to and from the brain to the body. Cannabis can also have mild hallucinogenic effects Street or slang names for marijuana include pot, grass, dope and hooch.

Forms of Cannabis

There are three main forms of cannabis: marijuana, hashish and hash oil. Marijuana is the most common and least powerful form of cannabis. It is the dried leaves and flowers of the plant. Marijuana looks like chopped grass, and ranges in colour from grey-green to greenish-brown. Its texture can be fine or coarse, and it can contain seeds and twigs from the plant. The flowers or ‘heads’ are the most potent part of the plant, and so the potency of marijuana will depend upon the amount of leaf and heads it contains. Marijuana is smoked in hand-rolled cigarettes (joints) or in a pipe (a bong).

Hashish (hash) is dried cannabis resin which comes in small blocks. The blocks range in colour from light brown to nearly black. The concentration of THC in hashish is higher than in marijuana, producing stronger effects. Hash is added to tobacco and smoked, or baked and eaten in foods such as ‘hash cookies’.

Hash oil is a thick, oily liquid, golden-brown to black, that can be extracted from hashish. It is usually spread on the tip or paper of cigarettes and then smoked. Hash oil is more powerful than the other forms of cannabis. A very small amount can have a strong effect.

A non-potent form of cannabis (Indian hemp) is used to produce fibres for use in paper, textiles and clothing.

THC

THC (Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol) is the chemical in marijuana that makes you feel “high". This means you experience a change in mood and may see or feel things in a different way. Some parts of the plant contain a higher level of THC. For example, the flowers, or ‘heads’, have more THC than the stems and leaves. THC is absorbed into the bloodstream through the walls of the lungs (if cannabis is smoked), or through the walls of the stomach and intestines (if eaten). The bloodstream carries the THC to the brain, producing the ‘high’ effects. Drugs inhaled get into the bloodstream quicker than those eaten. This means that the effects of cannabis when smoked (inhaled) happen more rapidly.

Cannabis use in context

Of all the illegal drugs, cannabis is the most regularly used. The claim that cannabis use will lead to the use of ‘harder’ drugs has been a major argument for sustaining the prohibition of cannabis since the mid-1960s. However, there is little evidence to support the notion that cannabis use leads to the use of other drugs. While it is true that most heroin users have also used cannabis (and alcohol and tobacco), it is worth noting that most people who use cannabis do not progress to using heroin, amphetamines or any other illegal drug.

Medicinal use of Cannabis

Cannabis has been used medicinally for many centuries. There is evidence to suggest it is useful in providing relief to cancer patients from nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy. Researchers now believe cannabis is worthy of further investigation in the treatment of glaucoma, nausea, anorexia nervosa, epilepsy and asthma.

Effects of Cannabis

The effects of any drug (including cannabis) vary from person to person. It depends on many factors, including an individual’s size, weight and health, how the drug is taken, how much is taken, whether the person is used to taking it, what it’s being taken for (for example, stress) and whether other drugs are taken. The effects also depend on the environment in which the drug is used - for example, whether the person is alone, with others or in a specific social setting. When people are affected by cannabis they are said to be ‘stoned’, ‘bent’ or ‘high’. Traces of THC can remain detectable in urine samples for days, even weeks, after use.

Immediate effects

Small quantities of cannabis can have effects that last 2–3 hours after smoking.

• Relaxation and loss of inhibition -
  Cannabis can make the user feel happy, relaxed, and comfortable. They may feel less inhibited, friendlier and laugh spontaneously. Sometimes people become quiet and reflective. They may also become sleepy.
• Increased appetite -
  Cannabis often increases the appetite and leads to snacking on junk food (the munchies)
• Affected perception -
  Cannabis can increase awareness and the perception of colour, sound and other sensations. It can affect vision and perception of time and space.
• Impaired coordination -
  Cannabis decreases coordination and balance, making it dangerous to drive or operate machinery.
• Thinking and memory -
  Cannabis can affect memory and the ability to think logically. People can lose track of what they are saying or thinking. When affected by cannabis, some people may think as though they’ve experienced profound ideas or insights.
• Other common immediate effects include increased heart rate, low blood pressure, faintness and reddened eyes. There also can be a ‘hangover’ effect, like drowsiness and poor coordination that lasts for several hours after the initial effects.

In greater quantities

Larger quantities of marijuana make the above effects stronger, and also tend to distort a person’s perceptions. Very large quantities of marijuana can produce:

• confusion
• restlessness
• feelings of excitement
• hallucinations
• anxiety or panic, or detachment from reality
• decreased reaction time
• paranoia.

Occasional use of small quantities

Currently, there is no evidence that occasional use of small quantities of cannabis causes any permanent health damage.

Long-term Effects

Research in Australia and the United States of America shows evidence of some long-term effects in some regular cannabis users.

• Respiratory illness -
  Marijuana cigarettes have more tar than tobacco, placing cannabis users at an increased risk of respiratory illness such as lung cancer and chronic bronchitis. This risk is increased because marijuana smokers often inhale deeply, and hold the smoke in the lungs longer, to increase the effects of the drug. Cigarette smokers who also smoke cannabis have an even greater risk of respiratory disease.
• Reduced motivation -
  Many regular users, especially young people, have reported that they have less energy and motivation, so that performance at work or school suffers. Usually these effects disappear gradually when cannabis use stops.
• Brain function -
  Concentration, memory and the ability to learn can all be reduced by regular cannabis use. These effects can last for several months after ceasing cannabis use.
• Hormones -
  Cannabis can affect hormone production. Research shows that some cannabis users have a lower sex drive. Irregular menstrual cycles and lowered sperm counts have also been reported.

Cannabis & Psychosis

In general, there appears to be three separate circumstances whereby cannabis and psychosis are linked:

It is believed that cannabis use - especially if heavy and regular - may be linked to a condition known as a drug-induced psychosis, or ‘cannabis psychosis’. This can last up to a few days. The episodes are often characterised by hallucinations, delusions, memory loss and confusion.

Cannabis use may also precipitate a latent psychosis. In other words, it could bring forward an episode of schizophrenia or manic depressive psychosis in a vulnerable or pre-disposed individual.

It is possible that cannabis use can trigger psychotic episodes in a person who already has a mental illness.

Tolerance & Dependence

With regular use, people can develop a mild tolerance to cannabis. This means they need to take more and more to get the same effect. Dependence on a drug can be psychological, physical or both.

People can become psychologically dependent on any drug, including cannabis. This means that using cannabis becomes far more important than other activities in their life. Cannabis becomes part of their lifestyle (e.g. reducing stress, increasing relaxation) and some come to depend on it. Some people crave the drug and find it very difficult to stop using it. Physical dependence occurs when a person’s body has adapted to a drug. The body is used to functioning with the drug present. Heavy and frequent use of cannabis can cause physical dependence.

Withdrawal

Abrupt termination of cannabis use can produce a mild withdrawal syndrome. Withdrawal symptoms include sleep disturbance, irritability, loss of appetite and consequent weight loss, nervousness, anxiety, sweating and upset stomach. Sometimes chills, increased body temperature and tremors occur. The withdrawal syndrome usually lasts for less than a week, although the sleep disturbances may persist for a longer period.

Cannabis & Other Drugs

Combining cannabis with other drugs such as alcohol or prescribed drugs can increase and alter the effects, with unpredictable consequences. It is always dangerous to combine drugs. It is widely believed that using cannabis leads people on to using other illegal drugs.However, there is no evidence to support this. Most users of cannabis do not use other illegal drugs.

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Pregnancy

Little is known about the effects of cannabis on the unborn child. However, the use of cannabis during pregnancy is not recommended. If cannabis is used during pregnancy the baby may be born smaller and lighter than other babies. Low birth weight can be associated with infections and breathing problems.

Breastfeeding

Little is known about the effects of cannabis smoking on breastfeeding. It is believed that some of the drug will pass through the breast milk to the baby, and the baby may become unsettled and demand frequent feeding. See your doctor or other health professional if you are taking or planning to take any substances while pregnant or breastfeeding, including prescribed and over-the-counter medications.

Cannabis & Driving

It is illegal to drive a motor vehicle while under the influence of any drug (including cannabis). Breaking this law carries heavy penalties, disqualification from driving, fines and even imprisonment.

Cannabis, particularly in combination with alcohol, greatly increases the risk of having an accident. Cannabis and alcohol can significantly reduce the ability to drive safely. Effects such as reduced coordination, slow reaction time, blurred vision and drowsiness have an impact upon a person’s driving ability. These effects can last several hours, and appear to vary according to quantity, quality and content. Research indicates the number of fatal accidents attributed to cannabis impaired drivers is increasing.

Cannabis & Social Problems

Family problems and other personal problems may be related to cannabis use. Disagreements over drug use can cause family arguments and affect personal relationships. Heavy cannabis use may also lead to problems at work or school.

Legal implications

In New Zealand Marijuana is classified as a Class C drug. The maximum penalty for importation/ manufacture/supply is 8 years imprisonment and for possession 3 months jail and/or a $500 fine.

Hashish is a Class B drug. The maximum penalty for importation/ manufacture/supply is 14 years imprisonment and for possession 3 months jail and/or a $500 fine.

Reducing the risks

New Zealand drug policy is based on harm minimisation. This is about reducing drug-related harm to both the community and individual drug users. Harm-minimisation strategies range from encouraging ‘non-use’ through to providing the means for people to use drugs with fewer risks.

Cutting down or quitting

There are a number of drug treatment options available in New Zealand. While abstinence may be a suitable treatment aim for some people, many programmes recognise that for others this may not be possible or realistic. Most programs adopt strategies that have an overall aim of reducing the harms and risks related to the person’s drug use. Some treatment options include counselling, withdrawal (detoxification) and pharmacotherapy.

For those cannabis users who wish to stop using cannabis but need some assistance, a booklet is also available. The booklet goes through the steps involved in quitting. These are:

• making a decision to stop
• the process of giving up and
• keeping your life free of cannabis

For other information click on the link below: http://www.ndp.govt.nz/cannabis/NDPCannabisPamphlet.pdf

Ring 0800 787 797 for options.