Classification: Psychoactive
Common Names/Nicknames: Pot, weed, grass, herb, hash, ganja, reefer, chronic
Active Compound: Tetrahydrocannibinol (THC)
Found in: Marijuana, sinsemilla, hashish, A-bombs (mixed with cocaine)
Mode of Consumption: Inhalation (smoking), ingestion
DEA Scheduling/Legal Status (in US): Schedule I. Legal in 16 states for medicinal uses with prescription. Illegal in all other states and without prescription
Effects:
Acute: euphoria, relaxation, metacognition, audiovisual illusions, lack of coordination, anxiety, paranoia, dry mouth, red eyes, increased appetite
Chronic: lethargy, decreased memory
Risks:
Psychological addiction, accidental injury, impaired lung function/pulmonary cancer, increased cardiovascular disease, increased multi-organ cancer risk
Males: impotence, gynecomastia
Females: menstrual irregularities
Dangerous Drug Combinations:
Dangerous combination with cocaine. Possibly dangerous with heart or blood pressure medications and with immunosuppressants
Special Considerations:
Marijuana use can lead to psychological addiction (as opposed to physiological addiction). Its legal status is disputed due to medicinal uses in appetite-activation of cancer patients and for slowing macular degeneration in glaucoma.
And remember, if somebody may need help, play it safe and call for medical assistance.
“Students may bring an intoxicated or drug-impaired friend to University Health Services or to a hospital, or seek assistance from College residential life staff or HUPD, and by doing this, neither they nor the friend will face disciplinary action from the College for having used or provided alcohol or drugs.”
The Amnesty Policy
Harvard College Student Handbook
Sources:
Buzzed: The Straight Facts About the Most Used and Abused Drugs from Alcohol to Ecstasy (Third Edition), by Cynthia Kuhn, Scott Swartzwelder, and Wilkie Wilson. Published 2008 by W. W. Norton & Company.
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institute of Health (NIH) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
http://www.nida.nih.gov/DrugPages/
U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), part of the U.S. Department of Justice.
Erowid Organization