Marijuana Picture Resource

This website contains a detailed selection of pictures of marijuana, hash, utensils, plants and buds. Pictures and photos of hash oils, dried buds, plants growing and all thing to do with cannabis.

CANNABIS/MARIJUANA

Imagine Source http://www.marijuana.com/

Marijuana (cannabis):

is the most frequently used illicit drug in America and Australia today
refers to the leaves and flowering tops of the cannabis plant
is a tobacco-like substance produced by drying the leaves and flowering tops of the cannabis plant
can look like dried herbs or tea. Sometimes it contains seeds or twigs. It can be grey, green or brown in color
varies significantly in potency, depending on source and selection of plant materials
the form known as sinsemilla (Spanish, sin semilla: without seed) is derived from unpollinated female cannabis plants and is preferred for its high THC content
is usually smoked in the form of loosely rolled cigarettes called "joints", hollowed out commercial cigars called "blunts" or water pipes called "bongs"
Joints and blunts may be laced with a number of adulterants including phencyclidine (PCP), substantially altering the effects and toxicity of these products
street names include pot, grass, weed, Mary Jane, Acapulco Gold, reefer, "cannabis", "mull", "dope", and "yarndi".
contains known toxins and cancer-causing chemicals which are stored in fat cells for as long as several months Marijuana users experience the same health problems as tobacco smokers and other symptoms such as:
bronchitis
emphysema
bronchial asthma
increased heart rate
dryness of the mouth
reddening if the eyes
impaired motor skills and concentration
frequent hunger
increased desire for sweets
increases risk to the lungs and reproductive system
suppression of the immune system
occasionally hallucinations, fantasies and paranoia are reported

What is THC?

THC is the chemical in marijuana which makes you feel "high" (which means experiencing a change in mood and seeing or feeling things differently).

Certain parts of the plant contain higher levels of THC. The flowers or buds have more THC than the stems or leaves.

The Effect of THC

When marijuana is smoked, THC goes:

quickly into the blood through the lungs
to the brain (this is when the "high" is felt and can happen within a few minutes and can last up to five hours)

THC is absorbed more slowly into the blood when marijuana is eaten as it has to pass through the stomach and intestine and can take up to one hour to experience the "high" effects which can last up to 12 hours.

THC is absorbed quickly into body fat and is then released very slowly back into the blood. This process can take up to one month for a single dose of THC to fully leave the body.

Effects

The effects of marijuana will vary from person to person depending on:

how much taken
how strong (potent) the marijuana is
how the marijuana is taken (joint, bong, food)
size, weight, health
mood
individual experience with marijuana
if marijuana is taken with other drugs
whether alone or with other people, at home or at a party.

Immediate effects

Small amounts

With a small amount of marijuana the effects can last up to five hours. You may:

feel unusually well and happy
do or say things out of the normal
talk and laugh more than usual
have poor balance and coordination
find it difficult to concentrate
feel hungry
have a faster heart rate
have red eyes
focus awareness on one particular thing and ignore all other things.

These effects usually lead to feelings of slowing down and sleepiness.

Large amounts

With a large amount of marijuana, you may:

feel confused
be restless
feel excited
see or hear things which are not there
feel anxious or panicky
feel distant or separate from reality

Marijuana can also cause problems with:

remembering things
thinking clearly
movement
ability to drive or operate machines

Symptoms usually disappear when the effects of marijuana wear off.

Long-term effects

If you take marijuana regularly over a long period of time then you may experience the following health problems:

increase in the risk of getting bronchitis, lung cancer and other respiratory system diseases
decrease in motivation
decrease in concentration, memory and ability to learn new things
lowered sex drive
decrease in sperm-count in men
irregular menstrual cycles in women
psychological effects may be experienced if the person already has a schizophrenic condition

Marijuana and pregnancy

It is not wise to use any drugs during pregnancy as:

THC passes from the mother to the baby through the placenta
women who smoke marijuana may give birth to smaller babies
newborn babies may have trouble sleeping

Marijuana and driving

Marijuana makes it more difficult to drive safely, especially combined with alcohol
there is no breathalyzer test as yet to detect if you have used marijuana.
if marijuana, or other drugs, are suspected you can be arrested and subjected to a compulsory blood and urine test to show if THC or any other drug is in your body
it is illegal to drive while under the influence of any drugs, including marijuana
if you break this law you could lose your licence for a fixed period of time, be fined or sent to prison
if a person under the influence of marijuana kills or injures another person while driving a motor vehicle he/she can be sentenced to prison

Mixing marijuana with other drugs

It can be harmful to mix marijuana with other drugs such as alcohol or other prescription drugs, because the effects of marijuana can increase considerably.

Dependence

Physical dependency to marijuana can develop. This means that you may experience withdrawal symptoms if you stop or suddenly cut down. Marijuana withdrawal symptoms usually consist of flu like symptoms such as:

headaches
nausea
irritation
depression
anxiety
upset stomach
difficulties in sleeping

Giving Up Marijuana

If you have been a long time user of marijuana it may be difficult to stop. Some people have been known to give up in one day while others prefer to wean themselves slowly off the drug by taking less marijuana each time.

Giving up any drug habit can be traumatic. The choice is always a personal one but there is assistance available.

A guide to quitting marijuana is a self help booklet available from the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre in Sydney, Australia.
Mulling it over is a harm reduction booklet available from the Manly Drug Education and Counseling Centre (MDECC).
Counseling for users, concerned relatives and friends is available in some alcohol and other drug agencies, hospitals, community health centres and private clinics. Phone the telephone counseling service in your state or territory for more information.
Quit smoking marijuana groups are available in some drug and alcohol agencies. These groups are like quit smoking programs. Phone the telephone counseling service in your state or territory for more information.
NOTE

There is:
no record of any deaths being caused by marijuana
no evidence that marijuana automatically leads to the use of other drugs