What is Marijuana?

Marijuana is a drug derived from the cannabis plant, also known as hemp. It is usually a greenish-grey or brown mixture of dried, shredded flowers and leaves, but it may also include stems and seeds. Marijuana smoke has a distinctive smell that can be described as pungent, sweet, or skunk-like.

Marijuana is a psychoactive drug with a wide variety of positive and negative effects. It is the most commonly used illegal drug among young people. It is typically smoked in hand-rolled cigarettes called joints, but it can also be smoked in pipes or cigars, vaporized, infused or cooked into food, brewed into tea, or even applied topically as a salve. It has been available for legal, medical use in Canada since 1999. Medical effects may vary depending on the individual or the strain of the plant. Marijuana users may seek out the drug for its medical uses, its recreational effects, or both. Research on marijuana is an ever-expanding—and often controversial—field. Studies suggest that marijuana may have the following medical benefits, among others:

• treatment and prevention of glaucoma
• prevention of epileptic seizures
• relief from the side effects of chemotherapy
• relief from pain caused by multiple sclerosis
• treatment of inflammatory bowl diseases
• relief from arthritis pain
• treatment of PTSD

Other positive effects may include:

• a sense of relaxation and well-being
• increased creativity
• decreased inhibition
• more vivid sensory experiences or emotions

The negative effects of marijuana can be long lasting or short-lived. Some of the short-term effects may include:

• paranoia
• nervousness, anxiety, or panic
• hallucinations
• coughing
• increased heart rate
• expansion of the blood vessels in the eyes, causing a red appearance
• hunger (often referred to as ‘the munchies’)

Prolonged marijuana use may lead to other serious side effects, especially for younger users or people with a personal or family history of mental illness. These effects may include:

• decreased concentration
• lower IQ
• memory loss
• decreased ability to make decisions
• addiction
• cancer
• increased risk of psychosis and schizophrenia.

The main active ingredient in marijuana is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, known as THC. This chemical is found mainly in the leaves and buds of the female plant, and is primarily responsible for the intoxicating effects that some users seek. However, THC is not the only active ingredient in marijuana. Cannabis contains hundreds of compounds called cannabinoids that are chemically related to THC.

Cannabidiol (CBD) is another major cannabinoid found in marijuana. It is thought to have many potential medical applications, but without the psychoactive side effects of THC. Medical marijuana dispensaries and licensed producers can offer strains with different balances of THC and CBD according to patient preference.

The cannabinoids found in marijuana are similar to natural cannabinoids produced in the human body. Cannabinoids help regulate sleep, appetite, mood, pleasure and pain, among many other things. This helps explain why marijuana can have such diverse effects on many different parts of the body.

Other products derived from the cannabis plant include hashish and hash oil, which are made of cannabis resin and usually contain more THC than marijuana.