cannabis (drug) cannabis (drug) cannabis, also known as marijuana among other names, is a psychoactive drug from the cannabis plant. native to central or south asia, the cannabis plant has been used as a drug for both recreational and entheogenic purposes and in various traditional medicines for centuries. tetrahydrocannabinol (thc) is the main psychoactive component of cannabis, which is one of the 483 known compounds in the plant, including at least 65 other cannabinoids, such as cannabidiol (cbd). cannabis can be used by smoking, vaporizing, within food, or as an extract. cannabisclose-up of flowering cannabis plantpronunciationcannabis: /ˈkænəbɪs/marijuana: /ˌmærəˈwɑːnə/ source plant(s)cannabis sativa, cannabis indica, cannabis ruderalispart(s) of plantflower and fruitgeographic origincentral or south asiaactive ingredientstetrahydrocannabinol, cannabidiol, cannabinol, tetrahydrocannabivarinmain producersafghanistan, canada, china, colombia, india, jamaica, lebanon, mexico, morocco, netherlands, pakistan, paraguay, spain, thailand, turkey, united kingdom, united stateslegal status au: s9 (prohibited substance) ca: unscheduled de: medical cannabis from state-controlled production: anlage iiiother cannabis: i nz: class b uk: class b us: schedule i un: narcotic schedule i part of a series oncannabis artsculture 420 books magu (deity) names religion judaism latter-day saints sikhism smoke-in spiritual use sports stoner film stoner rock terms chemistry cannabinoid receptors cannabinoid receptor type 1 cannabinoid receptor type 2 cannabinoids 2-ag 2-age, noladin ether aea cbc cbl cbd cbdv cbg cbn cbv nada thc thcv virodhamine synthetic cannabinoids am-2201 cp-55940 dimethylheptylpyran hu-210 hu-331 jwh-018 jwh-073 jwh-133 levonantradol sr144528 win 55,212-2 consumption drinks edibles smoking tea vaping adult lifetime cannabis use by country annual cannabis use by country economics coffeeshop cultivation shop social club grow house grow shop head shop marijuana vending machine effects dependence driving drug testing effects of legalized cannabis gateway drug theory long term effects medicine memory pregnancy psychosis time perception forms bhang blunt charas flower essential oil hash oil hashish hemp hemp oil joint kief roach synthetic cannabis thai stick tincture law cannabis rights legality of cannabis timeline of cannabis law legality of cannabis in us legal history of cannabis in us us (medical non-medical timeline) cannabis act of canada legal history of cannabis in canada drug policy of california drug policy of the netherlands drug policy of portugal variants autoflowering cannabis genus cannabis species cannabis sativa cannabis indica cannabis ruderalis strains acapulco gold blue dream charlotte's web kush malawi gold sour diesel related drug culture illegal drug trade psychedelia cannabis portal medicine portal agriculture portal cannabis has various mental and physical effects, which include euphoria, altered states of mind and sense of time, difficulty concentrating, impaired short-term memory, impaired body movement (balance and fine psychomotor control), relaxation, and an increase in appetite. onset of effects is felt within minutes when smoked, but may take up to 90 minutes when eaten. the effects last for two to six hours, depending on the amount used. at high doses, mental effects can include anxiety, delusions (including ideas of reference), hallucinations, panic, paranoia, and psychosis. there is a strong relation between cannabis use and the risk of psychosis, though the direction of causality is debated. physical effects include increased heart rate, difficulty breathing, nausea, and behavioral problems in children whose mothers used cannabis during pregnancy; short-term side effects may also include dry mouth and red eyes. long-term adverse effects may include addiction, decreased mental ability in those who started regular use as adolescents, chronic coughing, susceptibility to respiratory infections, and cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome. cannabis is mostly used recreationally or as a medicinal drug, although it may also be used for spiritual purposes. in 2013, between 128 and 232 million people used cannabis (2.7% to 4.9% of the global population between the ages of 15 and 65). it is the most commonly used largely-illegal drug in the world, with the highest use among adults in zambia, the united states, canada, and nigeria. since the 1970s, the potency of illicit cannabis has increased, with thc levels rising and cbd levels dropping. while cannabis plants have been grown since at least the 3rd millennium bce, evidence suggests that it was being smoked for psychoactive effects at least 2,500 years ago in the pamir mountains, asia. since the 14th century, cannabis has been subject to legal restrictions. the possession, use, and cultivation of cannabis has been illegal in most countries since the 20th century. in 2013, uruguay became the first country to legalize recreational use of cannabis. other countries to do so are canada, georgia, malta, mexico, south africa, and thailand. in the u.s., the recreational use of cannabis is legalized in 22 states, 3 territories, and the district of columbia, though the drug remains federally illegal. in australia, it is legalized only in the australian capital territory. uses medical main article: medical cannabis example of a container and the recreational cannabis purchase in canada medical cannabis, or medical marijuana, refers to the use of cannabis to treat disease or improve symptoms; however, there is no single agreed-upon definition (e.g., cannabinoids derived from cannabis and synthetic cannabinoids are also used). the rigorous scientific study of cannabis as a medicine has been hampered by production restrictions and by the fact that it is classified as an illegal drug by many governments. there is limited evidence suggesting cannabis can be used to reduce nausea and vomiting during chemotherapy, to improve appetite in people with hiv/aids, or to treat chronic pain and muscle spasms. evidence for its use for other medical applications is insufficient for drawing conclusions about safety or efficacy. there is evidence supporting the use of cannabis or its derivatives in the treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, neuropathic pain, and multiple sclerosis. lower levels of evidence support its use for aids wasting syndrome, epilepsy, rheumatoid arthritis, and glaucoma. so far, the medical use of cannabis is legal only in a limited number of territories, including canada, belgium, australia, the netherlands, new zealand, spain, and many u.s. states. this usage generally requires a prescription, and distribution is usually done within a framework defined by local laws. recreational according to dea chief administrative law judge, francis young, "cannabis is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known to man." being under the effects of cannabis is usually referred to as being "high" or "stoned." cannabis consumption has both psychoactive and physiological effects. the "stoned" experience can vary widely, based (among other things) on the user's prior experience with cannabis, and the type of cannabis consumed.: p647 when smoking cannabis, a euphoriant effect can occur within minutes of smoking.: p104 aside from a subjective change in perception and mood, the most common short-term physical and neurological effects include increased heart rate, increased appetite, impairment of short-term and working memory, and psychomotor coordination. additional desired effects from consuming cannabis include relaxation, a general alteration of conscious perception, increased awareness of sensation, increased libido and distortions in the perception of time and space. at higher doses, effects can include altered body image, auditory and/or visual illusions, pseudohallucinations and ataxia from selective impairment of polysynaptic reflexes. in some cases, cannabis can lead to dissociative states such as depersonalization and derealization. spiritual cannabis has held sacred status in several religions and has served as an entheogen – a chemical substance used in religious, shamanic, or spiritual contexts – in the indian subcontinent since the vedic period. the earliest known reports regarding the sacred status of cannabis in the indian subcontinent come from the atharva veda, estimated to have been composed sometime around 1400 bce. the hindu god shiva is described as a cannabis user, known as the "lord of bhang.: p19 in modern culture, the spiritual use of cannabis has been spread by the disciples of the rastafari movement who use cannabis as a sacrament and as an aid to meditation. consumption modes of consumption a joint prior to rolling, with a paper handmade filter on the left many different ways to consume cannabis involve heat to decarboxylate thca into thc; common modes include: smoking, involves burning and inhaling cannabinoids ("smoke") from small pipes, bongs (portable versions of hookahs with a water chamber), paper-wrapped joints, tobacco-leaf-wrapped blunts, or the like. vaporizing, heating various forms of cannabis to 165–190 °c (329–374 °f), causing the active ingredients to form vapor without combustion of the plant material (the boiling point of thc is 157 °c (315 °f) at atmospheric pressure). edibles, adding cannabis as an ingredient to a wide variety of foods, including butter and baked goods. in india it is commonly consumed as the beverage bhang. cannabis tea, prepared with attention to lipophilic quality of thc, which is only slightly water-soluble (2.8 mg per liter), often involving cannabis in a saturated fat. tincture of cannabis, sometimes known as green dragon, is an alcoholic cannabis concentrate. capsules, typically containing cannabis oil, and other dietary supplement products, for which some 220 were approved in canada in 2018. onset of effects is felt within minutes when smoked, and may take up to 90 minutes when eaten. depending on the amount used, the effects last for two to six hours. consumption by country countries by annual prevalence of cannabis use, per cent, as of 2011 global estimates of drug users in 2016(in millions of users) substancebestestimatelowestimatehighestimate amphetamine-type stimulants34.1613.4255.24 cannabis192.15165.76234.06 cocaine18.2013.8722.85 ecstasy20.578.9932.34 opiates19.3813.8026.15 opioids34.2627.0144.54 in 2013, between 128 and 232 million people used cannabis (2.7% to 4.9% of the global population between the ages of 15 and 65). cannabis is by far the most widely used illicit substance, with the highest use among adults (as of 2018) in zambia, the united states, canada, and nigeria. united states between 1973 and 1978, eleven states decriminalized marijuana. in 2001, nevada reduced marijuana possession to a misdemeanor and since 2012, several other states have decriminalized and even legalized marijuana. in 2018, almost half of the people in the united states had tried marijuana, 16% had used it in the past year, and 11% had used it in the past month. in 2014, daily marijuana use amongst us college students had reached its highest level since records began in 1980, rising from 3.5% in 2007 to 5.9% in 2014 and had surpassed daily cigarette use. in the us, men are over twice as likely to use marijuana as women, and 18–29-year-olds are six times more likely to use as over-65-year-olds. in 2015, a record 44% of the us population has tried marijuana in their lifetime, an increase from 38% in 2013 and 33% in 1985. marijuana use in the united states is three times above the global average, but in line with other western democracies. forty-four percent of american 12th graders have tried the drug at least once, and the typical age of first-use is 16, similar to the typical age of first-use for alcohol but lower than the first-use age for other illicit drugs. a 2022 gallup poll concluded americans are smoking more marijuana than cigarettes for the first time. adverse effects further information: effects of cannabis short-term main short-term physical effects of cannabis acute negative effects may include anxiety and panic, impaired attention and memory, an increased risk of psychotic symptoms, the inability to think clearly, and an increased risk of accidents. cannabis impairs a person's driving ability, and thc was the illicit drug most frequently found in the blood of drivers who have been involved in vehicle crashes. those with thc in their system are from three to seven times more likely to be the cause of the accident than those who had not used either cannabis or alcohol, although its role is not necessarily causal because thc stays in the bloodstream for days to weeks after intoxication. some immediate undesired side effects include a decrease in short-term memory, dry mouth, impaired motor skills, reddening of the eyes, dizziness, feeling tired and vomiting. some users may experience an episode of acute psychosis, which usually abates after six hours, but in rare instances, heavy users may find the symptoms continuing for many days. legalization has increased the rates at which children are exposed to cannabis, particularly from edibles. while the toxicity and lethality of thc in children is not known, they are at risk for encephalopathy, hypotension, respiratory depression severe enough to require ventilation, somnolence and coma. fatality cannabis is suspected of being a potential, and under-reported, contributory factor or direct cause in cases of sudden death, due to the strain it can place on the cardiovascular system. multiple deaths have been attributed to cannabinoid