Drug Information I Cannabis I Perceptions of Cannabis

Perceptions of Cannabis

OVER 1 IN 3 PEOPLE THINK CANNABIS DOESN’T CAUSE NEGATIVE EFFECTS
A recent Poll conducted for the Drug and Alcohol Office showed that over 1 in 3 (37%) people aged 14 to 29-years surveyed agreed that Cannabis is a drug that can be used without suffering negative effects.

The Poll sample: The findings in this study are based on a survey which involved gaining the responses of 600 people aged 14-29 years of age during July 2011 in Western Australia. The sample included non-users, occasional users and regular users of cannabis

View Results.

NATIONAL PERCEPTIONS OF CANNABIS
Another survey recently conducted by the Richmond Fellowship found that:

Almost half the population (46%) believes that “Cannabis is a soft drug that does not lead to serious effects”.
More young people believe that Cannabis is a soft drug (53% of 25-34 year olds and 50% of 16-24 yr olds) compared to 55-64 year olds (37%) and of people surveyed over 65 years (39%).
70% of cannabis users believe that “Cannabis is a soft drug that many people can use without suffering serious effects” whereas 35% of non-users agreed with the statement.

Survey sample: The findings in this study were based on a survey which involved gaining the responses of 1006 people during April 2011. The sample was drawn from the Australian population. The sample was specified to meet Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) statistics for gender and age distributions throughout Australian states, including quotas for capital city and non-metro areas. The sample included non-users, occasional users and regular users of cannabis.

What is a bong?
A bong is a water pipe that is used for smoking cannabis.

Can cannabis affect the brain?
Frequent use of cannabis can affect the brain by decreasing the user’s ability to concentrate and remember things and can also impact on learning ability. Research indicates that cannabis affects the frontal cortex of the brain, leading to less self control.

If you are a first timer and you tried it, how long does it stay in your system afterwards?
Cannabis can last in your system for up to 5 weeks, however with one time use this may be a little less. However, it is difficult to determine as every individual is different. Read more.

How long before cannabis leaves your system and is no longer detectable in a blood or urine test?
It is suggested that a single joint can last from 18 hours to 5 days until it is no longer detectable in urine, and 20-36 hours until it is no longer detectable in blood. Heavy cannabis use can take 60-90 days until it can be no longer detectable in urine, and 20-36 hours until it is no longer detectable in blood.

What type of drug is Cannabis?
Cannabis is difficult to classify pharmacologically because it has a variety of effects. It is primarily a depressant drug, however, it can have hallucinogenic and some stimulant properties.

What are the other names for cannabis?
Mull, Pot, Dope, Weed, Leaf, Gunga, Marijuana, Grass, Smoke, Green, hashish, hashish oil

Where does cannabis come from?
Cannabis is the short name for the hemp plant Cannabis Sativa. It is thought to have originated in Asia and reached Europe more than a thousand years ago.

What is Hashish?
Hashish is the dried, compressed resin extract from the flowering tops of the female plant. It ranges in colour from light brown to nearly black, and is more potent than marijuana. Hashish is usually smoked through a pipe or cooked in foods and eaten.

What is Hashish oil?
Hashish oil is a think and oily liquid extract from the cannabis plant. It is reddish-brown in colour. The Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the active ingredient, is very concentrated and a small amount will produce marked effects. Hashish oil is usually added to joints or cooked in foods and eaten.

How is Cannabis used?

If you are pregnant, can you still smoke cannabis? Even occasionally?
Only a limited amount is known about the effects of cannabis on the unborn child. However, the use of cannabis during pregnancy is not recommended. If cannabis is used in pregnancy the baby may be born smaller and lighter than other babies. Low birth weight can be associated with infections and breathing problems. Read more.

Is driving after using cannabis dangerous?
Yes. Cannabis can impair driving ability by: Hesitancy over reactions; Slower reaction times; Distorting perceptions of distance and speed; Greatly reducing the ability to concentrate; Decreasing the ability to coordinate appropriate reaction when driving; Read more.

Can you overdose from cannabis?
The toxicity of cannabis is very low. There have been no confirmed deaths directly from cannabis overdose. Cannabis use can lead to a number of serious negative health consequences and can increase the risk of injury to yourself and to others.

I have heard that using cannabis reduces your motivation and drive. Is this true?
Many regular users of cannabis, especially young users, find that they begin to lose energy and drive, and interest in other activities. Their performance in school or work often suffers.

How long does cannabis stay in your system?
Cannabis can be detected in blood for up to 20-36 hours, but can be present in urine from 18 hours after use to 90 days after use.

How long after consuming cannabis can it be detected in saliva?
Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) (the active component in cannabis) can be detected in saliva for up to 4 hours after use, but can depend on the amount and potency used, and a person’s metabolism rate.

Will THC be detected if it is inhaled by passive smoking?
Having Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in saliva from passive smoking is very unlikely and if it were it would be at extremely low levels that would not be detected by the screening devices.

Can you get addicted to cannabis?

My friends say that cannabis is safer to use than other drugs, and there are things you can do to use cannabis safely. What can you do?

Is it true that the strength of cannabis varies between different parts of the plant?
Yes this is true. The flowers of the female plant contain more Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis which is responsible for the “high” people feel, then the stem or the leaves.

Some of my friends use cannabis and alcohol at the same time. Is this dangerous?

Why does it take so long for cannabis to leave your body?
Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis, is not soluble in water, but is very soluble in fat. Because of this, it is quickly absorbed into your body fat deposits from the blood stream.

Can cannabis interfere with your sex drive and hormones?
Some heavy users of cannabis have indicated that they have experienced a lowered sex drive, and may have lowered sperm count, or irregular menstrual cycles.

Which form of cannabis is usually the strongest?
Hashish oil contains the most Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). As the THC is very concentrated in hashish oil, only a small amount will produce marked effects.

Are the effects of cannabis felt more quickly when it is smoked compared to when it is eaten?

Is smoking cannabis better for you than smoking tobacco?
No. Even if users smoke only cannabis, they are still at risk of diseases associated with smoking such as bronchitis and lung cancer. Marijuana cigarettes, or joints, have 50 to 100 per cent more tar than tobacco cigarettes.