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Description:  Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol
(THC) is the active ingredient in cannabis, known to millions as
marijuana or hemp. Cannabis is a tall, leafy plant with an odd number of
divided leaves that grows in most parts of the world. All three species
of cannabis (Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis)
contain various cannabanoids including delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol. The
female flowers contain the highest concentrations of these cannabinoids.
Background: Cannabis is a very versatile plant: hemp, a strong fiber produced from the stem, has been used to make rope, paper and cloth; the dried leaves and flowers are used as marijuana for their psychoactive or medicinal properties; the roots of the plant have been used medicinally; and the seeds are used for oil and animal feed. People have cultivated cannabis in various parts of the world for thousands of years, with records dating back to at least the 9th century B.C. Henry Ford and Thomas Jefferson raised it, many wars have been fought with it or over it, and in the late 1800s hashish smoking parlors were open for business in every major American city. According to police estimates, in 1883 there were 500 such parlors in New York City alone. In 1914, Congress passed the Harrison Narcotics Act, outlawing marijuana. Hemp (usually connotes low-THC cannabis) and marijuana (high-THC cannabis) are both derived from the cannabis plant. Generally hemp is cannabis grown for industrial use (rope, canvas, etc.) while marijuana is cannabis grown for recreational or medical use. Cannabis intended for consumption is usually in the form of a greenish or brownish mixture of dried flowers and leaves of the female plant. Sometimes it comes in a resin form ("hashish") or a very black or gold-colored, sticky liquid form ("hash oil"). Usage: Recreationally or medically, cannabis is usually consumed in one of the following ways:
Additionally, a synthetic form of the active ingredient (THC) in cannabis, has been developed by Roxane Laboratories, Inc. It is marketed under the brand name Marinol and is targeted to AIDS patients, cancer patients and persons suffering from anorexia nervosa. Source: http://www.marinol.com Effects: Time, color, and spatial perception distortions occur as well as a dreamy euphoria, excitement, laughter and increased appetite ("the munchies"). Panic attacks and paranoia sometimes occur, particularly in new users. Marijuana has shown promise in many areas of medicine including as an anti-epileptic, as a treatment for nausea and other side-effects of chemotherapy and AIDS drugs, as one of the only known treatments for glaucoma and as a treatment for asthma. Recently, the drug has also been used as an experimental treatment for anorexia nervosa. Dependency: Physical Dependence: None Psychological Dependence: Moderate Tolerance: Moderate Source: The Merck Manual: Sixteenth Edition, published 1992 Treatment: Cannabis (marijuana) is a mild to moderately habit-forming substance with no physical addiction. It should be noted, though, that virtually any substance can be addictive, to a greater or lesser degree, depending on the user. It is a generally accepted notion among treatment professionals that the addiction, whether physical or psychological, is the problem, not the specific substance. Below are some treatment programs that may be useful for cannabis users as well as others seeking help with an addiction:
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