Cannabis
Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)
Synonyms | The most common synonyms are:
Other street names include: Acapulco gold, Ace, Bat, Bhang, Boom, Hemp, Indian hemp, Colombian, Doobie, Dope (cannabis), Ganja, Hydro, Jamaican, Jive (stick), Joint, Maui wowie, Mexican, Panama gold, Panama red, Pot, Chronic, Ragweed, Reefer, Sativa, Sinse, California sinsemilla, Spliff, Thai stick. Cannabis can be combined with a variety of other psychoactive drugs, including:
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Classification | Dissociative hallucinogen:
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Visual description |
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Mechanism of action |
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Routes of administration | Inhaled:
Ingested:
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Effects sought out by the user
- Analgesia
- Creativity
- Decreased nausea and increased appetite
- Euphoria, joy
- Heightened sensory perceptions
- Reduced stress
- Relaxation
- Stimulation (physical or social)
Common toxic effects
- Altered state of consciousness
- Anxiety
- Change in vision (heightened perception of colours and lights)
- Confusion
- Distorted time perception
- Dry mouth*
- Fatigue, drowsiness, dizziness, lethargy
- Hallucinations
- Hypotension
- Impaired language and motor function, loss of coordination*
- Increased appetite*
- Increased heart rate
- Red eyes*
- Short-term memory loss
Overdose effects
- Chest pain
- Delirium
- High heart rate
- Nausea and vomiting
- Panic attacks
- Psychotic episode (loss of contact with reality)
- Respiratory depression
- Severe anxiety
Effects associated with chronic use
- Cancer-causing effects (many of the substances in marijuana smoke are related to tobacco smoke and some of them are even more concentrated)
- Increased heart rate, which can put significant stress on the heart
- Memory loss and impaired comprehension
- Precipitation or exacerbation of latent or existing mental disorders (e.g., psychosis, schizophrenia)
- Respiratory problems (bronchitis, respiratory tract infections)
Tolerance (need to increase the dose to feel the same effect)
Yes. Users develop tolerance to the effects that are sought and to many systemic effects (confusion, drowsiness, red eyes).
Addiction
Yes, psychological. People who use strong doses of cannabis on a regular basis can also develop physical dependence.
Withdrawal
Symptoms last about 2 to 4 days and up to 6 weeks if usage has been long-term. The severity of symptoms is related to frequency and duration of use and to individual sensitivity to THC. Potential effects include:
- Anhedonia (loss of enjoyment)
- Fatigue and abnormal drowsiness
- Headache and general malaise
- Impaired thought process and speech
- Sleep disturbance
- Slight loss of appetite
Route of administration | Onset of action | Peak | Duration of action |
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Inhaled | A few seconds to 5 minutes | 15 to 30 minutes | Up to 6 hours, sometimes more |
Sublingual | 15 to 30 minutes, sometimes up to 3 hours | 1 h 30 to 2 hours | Up to 6 hours, sometimes more |
Swallowed | 30 to 60 minutes, sometimes up to 3 hours | 1 h 30 to 3 hours | Up to 12 hours, sometimes more |
Screening
- Urine: can be detected for several weeks after use.
Intoxication management
- Symptom-based management of intoxication.
- There is no known antidote or any specific treatment although cannabidiol may counteract some of the effects of THC.
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The patient information leaflets are provided by Vigilance Santé Inc. This content is for information purposes only and does not in any manner whatsoever replace the opinion or advice of your health care professional. Always consult a health care professional before making a decision about your medication or treatment.