Cannabis
{Weed, marijuana, kush, pot, hash, skunk}
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Effects
We have listed the most common effects of cannabis. Please note that everyone can be affected differently, and this is not an exhaustive list. Not everyone experiences these effects, and other effects are possible.
The likelihood of feeling these effects, and the strength of the sensation, depends on the THC:CBD ratio of the cannabis.
The effects are (from positive to negative):
Relaxation
Talkativeness and sociablity
Happiness
Laughter
Distorted sense of time and space
Alteration of sight and smell
Mild pain relief
Increased heart rate
Impairment of short-term memory
Fatigue
Paranoia
Slurred speech
Impaired motor function
Sometimes we take too much, here are some signs to look out for, internal and external so that you might detect the signs of an overdose in others.
Overdosing isn’t always life-threatening; Cannabis is unlikely to cause a fatal overdose, however, taking too much can be very unpleasant. With rising potency and the advent of Cannabis concentrates, which can sometimes be as much as 80% THC, the potential for overdose is much greater than it used to be.
Internal signs:
- Paranoia
- Anxiety
- Hallucinations
- Altered sense of perception or delusions
- Decreased blood pressure/dizziness
- Fast heart beat
External signs:
- Pale skin
- Unresponsiveness
- Vomiting and/or nausea
- Shaking that’s hard to control
When experiencing these symptoms, or seeing them in another, the best course of action is to first avoid taking any more drugs. Move to a calm and relaxing place, drink plenty of water, eat some carbs and take it easy for the rest of the day. The method of ingestion and potency of Cannabis will affect how long the symptoms can last; for smoking/vaping this is usually 1-3 hours and for edibles 3-6 hours.
References
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2 Curran, H. V., Freeman, T. P., Mokrysz, C., Lewis, D. A., Morgan, C. J., & Parsons, L. H. (2016).Keep off the grass? Cannabis, cognition and addiction. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 17(5), 293-306.
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8 Hindocha, C., Freeman, T.P., Ferris, J.A., Lynskey, M.T., & Winstock, A.R., (2016) No Smoke without tobacco? A global overview of cannabis and tobacco routes of administration and their association with intention to quit. Front Psychiatry, 7, 104.
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14 Iversen, L. L. (2001). The science of marijuana. Oxford University Press.
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16 Kouri EM, Pope HG. Abstinence symptoms during withdrawal from chronic marijuana use. Exp Clin Psychopharmacol 2000;8(4):483-92.
17 Nutt, D. (2012). Drugs without the hot air. Minimising the Harms of Legal and Illegal Drugs. Cambridge: UIT Cambridge Ltd Nutt, D. J., King, L. A., & Phillips, L. D. (2010).
18 Piomelli, D., & Russo, E. B. (2016). The cannabis sativa versus cannabis indica debate: an interview with Ethan Russo, MD. Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, 1(1), 44-46.
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