Marijuana and Hash

Also Known As: pot, smoke, weed, grass, reefer, herb, ganja, bud, doobie, hash, Mary Jane (MJ), homegrown, dope, spliff, blunt.

What You Should Know

Marijuana, hashish (hash) and hash oil come from cannabis sativa, a kind of hemp plant. All 3 contain THC, a chemical that changes the way you think, feel and act. Marijuana can be green, brown or grey, dried, with stems or seeds.

A stronger form of marijuana called hashish (hash) is dark brown or black and comes in solid balls or cakes. Hash oil is reddish-brown or green. Cannabis is addictive.

What's the Problem?

Marijuana affects your coordination. If you drive while stoned, you'll be impaired.
You may experience mood swings, from excited or happy to drowsy or depressed. Expect red eyes and feeling sleepy or hungry.
Marijuana elevates your heart rate and blood pressure.
Marijuana users usually inhale deeply and hold the smoke in their lungs longer than cigarette smokers do. This irritates your lungs and ups your risk of cancer. It can cause a chronic cough and bronchitis, and make asthma worse.
Heavy doses of marijuana can lead to “toxic psychosis.” This can cause you to see or hear things that aren't there, feel like people are out to get you, and believe things that aren't true.
Marijuana is often heavily laced with pesticides, which can cause all kinds of health problems, including cancer. Some marijuana also contains fungus.
There are at least 400 chemicals in marijuana. THC (the main active ingredient) is stored in your fat cells and can stay in your body for days or weeks. You won't be high for weeks, but you would test positive on a drug test for THC.
It can be impossible to know if the marijuana you're smoking has been laced with other dugs such as crystal meth — until it's too late.
In people at risk of developing schizophrenia, marijuana may bring on symptoms earlier.