What Is Cannabis
Cannabis is derived from the plant called Cannabis Sativa, which is grown all round the world. The Cannabis plant can also be grown in the UK, people trying to grow this plant in the UK on a commercial basis unfortunately hit problems as it requires specialist equipment and plenty of light and warmth. Cannabis comes in a few different forms those being resin, dried herbs and liquid, in the UK it is mainly resin.
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This picture illustrates the size and colour of a block of Cannabis resin. Depending on the type of Cannabis the colour may be lighter or darker. | The Price Of Cannabis The block of Cannabis to the left would cost around £40.00 Priced in 2001 |
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A block of Cannabis is formed from the resin which is extracted from the buds and flowers of the Cannabis plant. Cannabis resin comes from various sources but mainly from Morocco and Lebanon, it is usually hard and brittle from these countries and soft textured from the likes of Pakistan. Resin arrives in this country in different strengths, some being below average potency. Resin has acquired various different names some due to the strength, like Skunk, others due to peoples preferences. Most common names are Blow, Wacky Backy, Ganja, Dope, Hash or Hashish, Grass, Pot and many more.
The other two forms of Cannabis which have been mentioned are dried herbs which are dried leaves and buds of the Cannabis plant. The liquid (oil) which is uncommon is prepared from the resin.
How Is Cannabis Taken
Cannabis can be smoked a number of different ways, it can also be eaten. Firstly smoking Cannabis, this is done by making a joint (hand rolled cigarette), depending on what cigarette papers are used a joint is usually made up of three standard paper, two joined together and one stuck at the back. Tobacco is then placed along the length of the joint, the Cannabis is then added. Cannabis is usually in the form of a block of resin and needs to be warmed so it becomes brittle and can then be broken down into small particles which are spread evenly along the joint, the papers are then rolled to form a cigarette. One end of the cigarette is twisted a round to seal the end, then a roach would be added to the other end to compact the tobacco and Cannabis inside the joint. A roach is a small piece of rolled up thin card, possibly part of the packaging of the Rizla papers. The joints are this size as usually they are shared between a few people. The person smoking the joint would take a large inhale of the smoke and hold it in the lungs for as long as possible to enable the smoke to travel round the body in the blood stream like oxygen does, eventually reaching the brain giving them the high.
Cooking Cannabis
This drug can also be cooked, usually in the form of a cake, biscuits etc. The Cannabis is broken down into small pieces and mixed with the cake mixture and cooked as per the instructions on the cake mixture packet. Once the cake is made and ready for eating it would then be cut into pieces and shared.
Inhaling Cannabis
Inhaling just the smoke off Cannabis is done in a couple of ways. On the market there is plenty of smoking devices such as pipes with mesh grills. The Cannabis is placed onto the mesh grill, heat is applied the pipe is then sucked so that all the smoke off the Cannabis is inhaled. This method of inhalation tends to burn the throat as the smoke is rather warm when inhaled.
Using A Bong
Another way of inhaling this drug is to use a bong, with this method the smoke is drawn through water in a bottle causing the smoke to be cooled down before it is inhaled and obviously more enjoyable for the user. A bong is a bit like an Indian’s piece pipe.
For a user to make a bong is fairly simple, the materials required are all found around the home, small plastic bottle, cigarette filter, plastic tube, i.e. a pen with the inside taken out, and a receptacle for burning the Cannabis in, for instance the outsides of a TV aerial plug.
Effects Of Cannabis
Cannabis is a widely used drug and has been for some time in the UK. The effects of Cannabis is determined on the individual, the state of mind the individual was in before taking the drug, i.e. depressed or happy etc. Main effects of a user would be very talkative, relaxed and happy. Colours and sounds also play a big part in the state of users, as these are more pronounced and usually help relax the user. Like other drugs Cannabis can have its bad side of effects, especially when higher dose’s are taken. Some side effects include hallucinations and the user may become disorientated. This in turn can also lead to the user being anxious or depressed and possible suicidal. Some users will also become paranoid especially if taking the drug at parties with a lot of other people around. Nausea and vomiting can be present when too much of the drug is taken at once. When smoking Cannabis it usually hits the spot fairly quickly and can last from 1 to 3 hours depending on the amount taken. Just like heroin users, Cannabis users also get the munchies and dry mouth. Cannabis is classed as a drug that is fairly safe to use without any serious long lasting damage to physical or mental health. Cannabis is still dangerous due to the damage to the lungs through smoking, it is also said that it is not a drug that is addictive, to some people it is, also using cannabis with tobacco the user could get addicted to the nicotine in tobacco and get dependent on cigarette’s.