Cannabis is by far the most commonly consumed illegal drug in Germany today. Overall, it is the third most popular psychoactive substance after alcohol and tobacco.
The cannabis plant
There are different types of hemp plants, one of which is cannabis, each with male and female specimens (hermaphrodite forms are rare). Only the female plants of Cannabis sativa contain sufficient amounts of the main psychoactive substance tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) to produce an intoxicating effect. THC and the other intoxicating ingredients (cannabinoids) are found in the resin of the glandular hairs.
There are three different cannabis products:
- Marijuana (weed, pot): the finely chopped and dried female flowers of the plant
- Hashish (shit, dope): the pressed, often stretched resin
- Hashish oil (oil from the resin) or hemp oil (oil from the seeds)
The average THC content is 6.8 percent for hashish and 2 percent for marijuana. The THC content in hash oil can be up to 30 percent. In general, however, the THC content can vary greatly depending on the plant variety, cultivation area and method as well as the processing of the plants. For example, greenhouse cultivars of marijuana can contain up to 20 percent THC.
In addition to cannabis used as an illegal drug, there are also hemp varieties that are grown legally for fiber production. However, only varieties with a maximum THC content of 0.2 percent may be used for this purpose.
The cannabis high
Mechanism of action
Cannabis sativa contains more than 60 different cannabinoids. The so-called delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is said to have the greatest psychoactive effect.
The exact mechanism of action of cannabis is not yet fully understood. However, researchers have found special cannabinoid receptors in the brain and other parts of the body. THC and the other intoxicating cannabis ingredients bind to these receptors and thus unfold their relaxing and mood-enhancing effect. Further effects are
- heightened perception (hearing, seeing)
- an increased need to communicate
- more associative and imaginative thinking
Cannabis can also trigger unpleasant effects:
- depressed mood
- restlessness
- agitation
- Fear and panic reactions
- Confusion with delusions of persecution up to paranoid delusions
Experts suspect that the psychoses, depression and anxiety disorders of some cannabis users are due to an underlying predisposition, i.e. a genetic susceptibility to mental disorders.
Onset of effect
Anyone who smokes cannabis notices the intoxicating effect almost immediately. It reaches its peak after about a quarter of an hour. After 30 to 60 minutes, it slowly wears off; after two to four hours, it has completely subsided.
The drug high develops much more slowly when someone eats or drinks cannabis. This is because if the body absorbs THC through the stomach, it takes longer than if it enters the bloodstream directly via the lungs. The effect sets in 30 minutes to two hours after consumption and can last up to twelve hours or (rarely) even longer. It is not possible to predict the exact onset of effect. It depends, for example, on what and how much you have eaten beforehand.
The consequences
Acute risks from the consumption of cannabis mainly affect the psyche: paranoia, hallucinations, “horror trips”, memory lapses and other negative sensations can occur. Heart palpitations, nausea and even circulatory collapse are also possible. Cannabis poses a short-term health risk due to its heart rate-boosting effect. The drug is therefore dangerous for heart patients.
Overall, the sometimes very unpredictable effects are problematic. Especially those consuming cannabis for the first time do not know how their body and mind will react to it.
Hemp may impair development during puberty. The consequences during pregnancy and on the newborn are unclear. There is evidence that cannabis use impairs mental performance (attention, concentration, learning ability) in the long term. However, according to current knowledge, permanent brain damage does not occur.
There is as yet no scientific evidence for the often-described “amotivational syndrome”, which is said to occur with long-term, heavy cannabis use. It is understood to be a permanent state of listlessness, indifference and general lack of interest, which is also reflected in a neglect of outward appearance.
Compared to other drugs, cannabis has a low mental and physical dependency potential. On a corresponding scale, cannabis is therefore roughly comparable to alcohol and nicotine.
In the long term, however, cannabis can lead to mental and mild physical dependence.
Proponents and opponents
The use of cannabis is one of the most controversial topics of our time. The fight for the legalization of the drug divides the public. While proponents see cannabis as a rather mild relaxant, opponents stick to their opinion that cannabis is the number one “gateway drug”.
Cannabis as a medicine
Since March 2017, doctors have been able to legally prescribe cannabis flowers and extracts on prescription. This is permitted for patients with serious illnesses, as long as the cannabis preparations are deemed suitable by the doctor:
- significantly alleviate the symptoms
- have a positive effect on the course of the disease
This may be the case, for example, for the treatment of pain and spasticity, severe loss of appetite and nausea, for example in the course of cancer therapy or chronic diseases such as multiple sclerosis.
