Cannabis
Street name: Blow, Draw, pot, Dope, Grass, Black, Hash, Puff (usually from cannabis resin) Ganja, marijuana, Weed, Pot, Bush
Chemical Name: Tetra Hydrocannibol.

What is it?
Effects
Risks
Law
First-Aid

What is it?
Cannabis contains over 400 chemicals and is usually smoked on it's own or with tobacco in a "joint" or "spliff". It can also be smoked in a pipe or eaten in food. It shouldn't be longer than 5 minutes before the effects are felt. These may last up to one hour with low doses and for 2 to 3 hours with high doses.
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Effects
• The sought after effects, referred to as the "high" include talkativeness, a desire to "get deep into" a deep discussion, hilarity, euphoria, relaxation and a feeling of being slowed time. A heightened awareness of sound, colour and textures may occur, as may a light-headed floating sensation. Usual doses of cannabis also interfere with short-term memory and learning ability, it may also effects body co-ordination, so manual skills are impaired.

• Moderate doses may also interfere with clarity of speech, resulting in communication of irrelevant words and ideas. Music or T.V. may suddenly seem endlessly fascinating and unusually moving; fits of giggles are the standard as is the desire to stuff your face "munchies".
Many users have reported adverse reactions to the drug. These unpleasant reactions include fearfulness, confusion, severe panic and anxiety, paranoid reactions and hallucinations.
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Risks
• When burned, cannabis cigarette produces three times more carcinogenic "tars" than tobacco and five times more poisonous carbon monoxide. Prolonged heavy use of the drug causes chronic bronchitis, cough, hoarseness, laryngitis and pre-cancerous changes in the lungs similar to those produced by tobacco smoke, except that the changes and lung damage occur more rapidly with cannabis smoke.

• Inexperienced users may undergo temporary and in a small percentage of cases, severe psychological distress and confusion. Heavy use amongst those with latent or existing mental disorders may aggravate their condition. A heavy user constantly intoxicated by cannabis may appear apathetic, lack energy and perform poorly at work or education. This state may persist for weeks after stopping use of the drug.

• Among the other known or suspected long term effects of continuous cannabis use are decreased sperm count and sperm mobility, interference with ovulation and pre-natal development and impaired immune response. Heavy users of cannabis may suffer from apathy and loss of ambition- the so-called motivational syndrome.
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Law
• All cannabis products are controlled by the Misuse of Drugs Acts. Cannabis is included in Schedule 1, which prohibits its medical and non-medical use.

• It is therefore illegal to grow, produce, supply or possess any of the drugs except in accordance with a licence from the Minister for Health for research or analysis. It is also an offence to allow premises to be used for cultivating, supplying or smoking cannabis.
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First-Aid
What to do if cannabis users experience feelings of tension and anxiety.
• Calm the user down and reassure them.

• Talk quietly and explain these feelings will pass.

• Keep them away from bright lights and loud noises. Encourage them to breathe deeply and slowly in order to prevent hyperventilation.

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