What is Marijuana?
Marijuana, derived from the Cannabis plant, is known for its psychoactive effects, primarily attributed to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Marijuana’s heavy or daily use can result in use disorders, highlighting the complexity of its impact on users. Marijuana goes by many names – weed, pot, grass, herb, ganja, bud, and Mary Jane – and is consumed in numerous forms, including marijuana smoke.
Users might smoke it in hand-rolled cigarettes known as joints, pipes, water pipes (bongs), or blunts (marijuana rolled in cigar wrappers). Another popular method includes consuming marijuana as edibles, such as in teas, brownies, and cookies. The rise of vaporizers, or vape pens, has introduced a less conspicuous method of inhaling cannabis vapor alongside the smoking of more concentrated resins, which boast a higher potency.
At the core of marijuana’s effects are cannabinoids, a group of compounds naturally occurring in the cannabis plant. The most well-known of these is THC, responsible for marijuana’s intoxicating effects.
However, the abuse of marijuana can lead to negative side effects beyond its intended intoxication. In contrast, cannabidiol (CBD), another prominent cannabinoid, does not induce a high and is found in both hemp and non-hemp cannabis strains. Hemp is specifically classified as any part of the cannabis plant with a THC concentration of 0.3% or less.
Currently classified as a Schedule I drug under federal law, marijuana is deemed to have a high potential for misuse with no accepted medical uses, placing it in the same category as substances like heroin and LSD. This classification remains a topic of ongoing debate, as many advocate for reevaluation based on emerging research into marijuana’s potential medicinal benefits and relative safety compared to other Schedule I drugs.
CALL NOWUsers might smoke it in hand-rolled cigarettes known as joints, pipes, water pipes (bongs), or blunts (marijuana rolled in cigar wrappers). Another popular method includes consuming marijuana as edibles, such as in teas, brownies, and cookies. The rise of vaporizers, or vape pens, has introduced a less conspicuous method of inhaling cannabis vapor alongside the smoking of more concentrated resins, which boast a higher potency.
At the core of marijuana’s effects are cannabinoids, a group of compounds naturally occurring in the cannabis plant. The most well-known of these is THC, responsible for marijuana’s intoxicating effects.
However, the abuse of marijuana can lead to negative side effects beyond its intended intoxication. In contrast, cannabidiol (CBD), another prominent cannabinoid, does not induce a high and is found in both hemp and non-hemp cannabis strains. Hemp is specifically classified as any part of the cannabis plant with a THC concentration of 0.3% or less.
Currently classified as a Schedule I drug under federal law, marijuana is deemed to have a high potential for misuse with no accepted medical uses, placing it in the same category as substances like heroin and LSD. This classification remains a topic of ongoing debate, as many advocate for reevaluation based on emerging research into marijuana’s potential medicinal benefits and relative safety compared to other Schedule I drugs.
