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|
Appearance
and use |
| The
most widely used illegal drug in Britain. It's a naturally occurring drug made
from parts of the cannabis plant. | Cannabis
isn't "made" from parts of the cannabis plant, the cannabis plant "contains"
the active ingredients. It's important to understand that cannabis as used is
an entirely natural substance. |
|
It's a sedative
and mild hallucinogen that makes some people feel chilled out and others feel
sick. | Cannabis
may be a sedative, but it's one which can be used to enhance such pastimes as
dancing (as with "Jiving" - "jive" being a jazz culture term
for cannabis). Also, it doesn't produce hallucinations in the way LSD does. |
| It's
not very expensive and widely available. | It's
not very expensive but is widely available. |
|
ID: Bhang,
black, blast, blow, blunts. Bob Hope, bush, dope, draw, ganja, grass, hash, hashish,
hemp, herb, marijuana, pot, puff, Northern Lights, resin, sensi, sensemilla, shit,
skunk, smoke, soap, spliff, wacky backy, weed, zero. Some names are based on where
it comes from... Afghan, homegrown, Moroccan etc | Most
herbal cannabis is now "homegrown" (in the loosest sense of the word
"home") and is known by the strain of plant, e.g. White widow, Purple
haze etc. or generally as "skunk" or more likely "weed". |
| Cannabis
comes in different forms. | True |
| Hash
is a blacky-brown lump made from the resin of the plant. It's quite often squidgey.
Grass or weed is the dried leaves of the plant. It looks like tightly packed dried
garden herbs. |
Weed looks like this | 
Hash looks like this | |
| Less
common is sensimilla. This is bud grown in the absence of male plants and has
no seeds. And cannabis oil which is dark and sticky and comes in a small jar. |
Frank has
changed this bit of information, he used to say "Less common is sensimilla
which a form of Jamaican weed famous for being all bud and no seed" Most,
if not all, homegrown weed is sensimilla, i.e. unfertilised female plants, it's
very unlikely you'll get seeds in skunk. |
| Most
people mix cannabis up with tobacco and smoke it as a spliff or a joint. Some
people put it in a pipe. Others make tea with it or stick it in food like cakes. |
The fact
that most people smoke cannabis mixed with tobacco is true and is the biggest
health hazard facing users. Sadly nowhere does Frank give harm reduction advice
about safer ways to use cannabis. As
we commented last time, cannabis is not water soluble and putting it in tea (i.e.
boiling water) won't work. You can however make milk based drinks with it and,
indeed you can "stick it in" lots of food. See the ukcia how
to eat cannabis section |
|
Cost |
| About
£7.50 for a 'teenth' or sixteenth of an ounce. About
£15 for an 'eighth' of an ounce. And about £25 for a 'quarter'. |
Frank's
prices are for low-grade soap bar, good quality weed costs a little more, perhaps
around £10 per teenth. Increasingly
cannabis is being sold by the gram - especially weed. a "teenth" = 1.75grms. |
| This
has now changed to say Varies
widely around the country. Grass is usually more expensive than resin (hash) | Frank
no longer gives price advice for some reason (but changes hismind further down).
Actually, as far as we can tell, prices are fairly uniform as Frank used to claim
- and not much different, even two years on. Why the change? |
| Purity |
| Some
unsuspecting people have been known to buy blocks of mud, stock cubes and garden
herbs from people pretending to be dealers. |
Of course,
whilst cannabis remains illegal this is a very real problem, but that's the governments
fault for having a stupid law which prevents any form of regulation of cannabis
sales and which forces the trade into the hands of oganised crime. Of course,
Frank can't say that. |
| The
most unpure Cannabis is called 'soap bar'. It's contaminated with all sorts of
things. This makes it cheaper but it's a false economy really as it is often harder
to get stoned. Some users hate it so much they object to smoking it. |
A big change
here in Franks information. In June, Frank said "Cannabis is not something
that dealers mix anything with". UKCIA has been warning for some time that
this isn't true and that some forms of street hash - called "Soap bar"
can be highly contaminated - see our soapbar
warning. Again,
Franks' use of the English language is suspect and can really only be explained
because he's not being honest. The word "unpure" in Franks comments
actually mean "cut" or "polluted". This, again, is a direct
result of prohibition and nothing else. UKCIA
advice - Don't buy soapbar, don't sell soap bar, it may be very dangerous indeed. Why
not tell the truth Frank? |
|
The
effects |
| The
effects of any drug have a lot to do with who the users are with, what mood they're
in and how much of the drug they take. Cannabis is no exception. |
Actually,
that is more true for cannabis than with most other drugs. What used to be called
'set and setting' - who you are with and where you are - is very important when
you get stoned. That isn't true for all drugs as Frank should know. |
| Much
like a cigarette, the effects are immediate and last from about an hour to a few
hours. | Not
true. When smoked the effects are pretty fast acting, but not immediate. For a
total nonsmoker having a first puff on a tobacco spliff, the head-spinning hit
which happens at once is the tobacco. The cannabis high will come along some time
later, maybe as long as 10 - 20 mins later. How long it lasts depends on how much
is smoked and at what rate. Bongs etc are faster acting but still not immediate. |
| Smoking
more will make the effects last longer obviously. | Franks'
use of English is suspect again. Continuing to smoke will prolong the experience,
smoking "more" as in having more hits on the one bong will make the
experience mosre intense. Being stoned - like being drunk - is a matter of degree,
it's not an "on/off" experience. So you can get very stoned for a short
time or a little bit stoned for a long time using the same amount of cannabis. |
| Smoking
a spliff makes most people happy, relaxed and at peace with the world but the
effects vary from person to person. Some people have one puff and feel sick. Others
get the giggles until the muscles in their face hurt. |
As we said
last time, where do they get this from? Smoking with tobacco is the easiest way
to make people feel sick. To be honest, most people just feel stoned when they
smoke cannabis, which is much more than just "feeling happy, relaxed and
at peace with the world" - see here The
last bit about face muscles is just stupid and wrong. |
| Cannabis
is quite an introspective drug. Once stoned, users can find hidden depths in daytime
television/ the most unlikely song lyrics. | Being
stoned is an introspective experience, true. It certainly does allow people to
listen deeply to music, experiencing layers of complexity in the composition.
Similar things can happen with images. This is why artists use cannabis to great
effect in making music and other forms of art. Indeed, it's probably the reason
most people use cannabis, sad then that Frank tells people to watch daytime TV
when stoned, but then it is an anti drug site remember, the message has to be
a negative one... |
| It's
a mild hallucinogen. Colours and sounds appear brighter and sharper. | Indeed,
which is partly why "site and setting" mentioned above are important. |
| It
affects co-ordination. So it can make people a bit unsteady on their feet. Doing
complicated things like operating machinery is not a good idea. |
Stoned people
do not stagger around like drunks, although being very stoned can make movement
difficult. In
some ways cannabis can improve concentration and may even help with certain complex
tasks, particularly with artistic composition. But it is good advice not to work
dangerous machinery when stoned - including driving. |
| Some
people use it to relieve muscle pain associated with illnesses like MS (Multiple
Sclerosis). | True
- others use it for other reasons such as stress relief as well, indeed cannabis
seems to have a very wide range of medical applications, something long denied
by the drug warriors. |
| Someone
who's been smoking a lot will have bloodshot eyes, a dry mouth and may well have
their head in the fridge. Hunger pangs are known as 'getting the munchies'. | As
we said before, Near enough. |
| There
is a flip side: | So
all of the above were the good points of cannabis according to Frank... |
| | At
this poimt Frank has scrapped a rather daft warning he used to have about cannabis
causing a loss of inhibitions. Frank used to say "Some people get so chilled
they lose their inhibitions altogether." It was utter rubbish, it's gone.Thanks
Frank. |
| Even
hardcore smokers can get anxious, panicky and suspicious. | Which
is what can happen if you become too inward looking when stoned. |
| Cannabis
screws with short-term memory. | When
stoned, yes. Not permanently though. |
| Eating
or drinking the drug delays the effects and can make them stronger and longer
lasting. | Well,
it is fair to warn that eating cannabis does take a while to feel any effect,
but as for making the effect stronger and longer lasting, well, that's not a flip
side! Eating
or drinking cannabis also avoids the dangers associated with smoking, but of course,
Frank can't tell you that. However,
given the unregulated supply side - caused by the law - it is hard to judge the
strength of your hash cake. Again though, Frank fails to warn of the actual cause
of the problem. |
| Chances
of getting hooked |
| Unlikely.
There is a minimal risk of physical dependence. Psychological dependency occurs
in about 10% of users. | True
although Frank no longer says "unlikely" for some reason. |
| Users
are more likely to get addicted to nicotine if they roll their spliffs with tobacco | Then
why doesn't Frank advise users to smoke cannabis without tobacco? Tokepure
Frank! |
|
There are no physical withdrawal symptoms if you've only been using for a short
while and there should be no problem stopping (unless you get addicted to the
tobacco). | So
don't smoke tobacco... |
| |
Frank's
scrapped another wonderful bit of his GCSE English language grade F style information
here: He used to say "If you have been using for a long time, worth you might
want to think about counselling. Your local drug agency can offer help and advice". What
he meant was if you do find you have a problem with your cannabis use (a few people
do), don't be afraid to ask for help, you won't get busted. |
| The
risks |
| Most
of the risks associated with cannabis are linked to regular, heavy use. |
Most problems
associated to anything are linked to regular, heavy use, cannabis is no exception
to that rule. Notice
how Frank is careful not to say there are few if any risks with moderate use,
again, he can't, Talk to Frank is an anti drugs site. This is an example of "spin". |
| Smoking
cannabis may be more harmful than smoking tobacco. Cannabis has a higher concentration
of chemical 'nasties' that cause cancer. |
Note the
use of the words "may be", this is very open to debate and not proven.
Indeed, there is some
research which indicates that cannabis may actually inhibit cancer growth In
any case, cannabis smoking is very different in nature to tobacco smoking, which
is why regular tobacco smokers buy it in 12grm (1/2 ounce) packs, probably every
other day or so. However,
a simple bit of good harm reduction advice is to breath in as little smoke as
possible and to filter the smoke. Use a water pipe and smoke small amounts of
strong weed for example. |
| Smoking
anything can give you heart problems, bronchitis and cancer. Smoking it with tobacco
can get you hooked on tobacco. | Probably
true - don't smoke cannabis with tobacco and breath in as little smoke as possible
- see above. |
| Cannabis
can make asthma worse. | Frank
is on very shaky ground here. UKCIA has heard a lot of anecdotal evidence that
cannabis is actually good for asthma, although smoking tobacco laden spliffs is
going to reduce any potential benefits. Eating
cannabis of course avoids these problems. |
| And
it's not a good idea with heart disease, high blood pressure or at risk from strokes. | Probably
good advice, but again open to doubt, see here |
| Regular,
heavy use makes it harder to learn and concentrate. Being stoned all the time
isn't going to win anyone 'Employee Of The Month'. | Regular,
heavy use of anything won't make you employee of the month, that's not advice
particular to cannabis |
| Frequent
use of cannabis can cut a man's sperm count and suppress ovulation in women. | This
is a dangerous thing to say, cannabis has no contraceptive effect and cannabis
users do not have trouble breeding. Frank should reconsider this comment. |
| Some
people begin to feel tired all the time and can't seem to get motivated. | Whilst
others become hyperactive and use cannabis to concentrate on the task at hand.
But in general it's reasonable advice not to be stoned all the time and certainly
being stoned will not make you good at a task if you're not already. |
| Some
research has made a link between cannabis and mental illnesses like schizophrenia.
If you've got a history of mental illness in the family you should think very
carefully about getting stoned. |
"Some
research", it's not proof by a long way. However,
if you find cannabis has unpleasant effects - and some people certainly do - don't
use it. The
vast majority of people will not suffer in this way of course. |
| Cannabis
can cause a range of mental health problems from short lived and more common problems
such as anxiety and paranoid feelings, to less common difficulties with actual
psychotic states that may require medical treatment. | This
section has changed to become more alarmist and it is far from proven that cannabis
actually causes any of these problems. However, it is probably true to say that
cannabis may make latent conditions worse, which the user may not be aware of
before using cannabis. Nothing on this earth is without risk. |
| These
problems may fade away over several days after stopping using cannabis but occasionally
may require a stay in hospital. | In
the vast majority of cases the problems fade when the stone wares off. If you
experience these problems on a regular basis, don't use cannabis. If you continue
to do so, you may find you have a problem. Feelings of anxiety or paranoia are
warnings, don't ignore them. |
| Smoking
cannabis when pregnant may harm the baby | Smoking
anything when pregnant can harm the baby |
| Babies
tend to be lower in birth weight and to have developmental problems. |
This is
smoking related advice, not cannabis related. However, it's good advice not to
use any kind of drug when pregnant. A reader offered this feedback to UKCIA "I
don't think its advisable to take any drug including alcohol or caffeine when
pregnant, surely you shouldn't really be encouraging people to get stoned when
they are pregnant if it involves smoking or not"? Fair
enough. |
| Most
of the new information has been stuck on here |
|
Self
control tips |
| While
you're better to avoid smoking cannabis altogether, if you are finding it difficult
to cut down or stop there are tips that you might find useful: | Of
course, it has to have the "don't use" message - this is a government
anti-cananbis site remember. This is a pity, because this information is good
for everyone who uses cannabis, even if they aren't finding it difficult to cut
down or stop. |
| To
reduce the risk of overdoing it, try to space out the days between using cannabis. | Er,
don't get stoned everyday I think he means. What's wrong with a quick toke before
bedtime or after work? |
| Don't
buy more than you need thinking you will save some for tomorrow - you probably
won't. | Why
ever not? Not everyone canes the whole lot in one go Frank. Better advice is to
learn when you've had enough as most users do. |
| The
more you break up the pattern of use the easier it is to control cannabis and
reduce the risks. | That's
probably true, but other factors like the way you use cannabis are important.
Still no advice about smoking with tobacco note. |
| If
you are trying to cut down, avoid things that remind you of cannabis. Certain
places, people, events or times might make you think of cannabis and want to take
it. | This
is good advice for breaking a psychological addiction. |
| Try
to identify all the things you associate with using cannabis and make an effort
to avoid them until you feel OK about not smoking. Plan to do something else at
the time of day you usually have a joint. | This
is actually a cut and paste from the stop smoking tobacco information issued by
the government. Frank doesn't understand that cannabis is different to tobacco,
to him its all just smoking. Good
advice as far as it goes, but what's the advice if you're not trying to cut down
or stop Frank? |
SKUNK
ID: home-grown, buds, tops, nederwiet/netherweed, sinsemilla | Ah!
Frank has noticed the skunk debate at last. It only took him three years. |
| 'Skunk'
is a term that is often used to describe herbal cannabis grown from selected seeds
by intensive indoor methods (e.g. using hydroponic methods, artificial lighting
etc.). The term originally related to the strong smell of these particular strains. |
"Skunk"
is actually the name of a particular strain of cannabis, grown from "skunk"
seeds made by skunk plants. Skunk is a cross between Sativa and Indica types of
cannabis plant. However,
Frank is right to say the term "skunk" is often used to mean cannabis
grown indoors under lights and the illegal nature of the supply side does often
mean it's grown intensively. In
fact, a lot of "skunk" - better to call it "bud" - isn't grown
from seeds but from cuttings of an older plant. Cuttings are not a new idea for
gardeners, they've been doing it for thousands of years. Each plant grown from
a cutting is a clone of the original - ie identical in every way. Growing from
"cuts" thus produces a very predictable product. The
name did originally come from the smell. |
| Other
terms for, and varieties of, such domestically produced herbal cannabis include
homegrown, 'buds', 'tops', 'nederwiet/netherweed' or domestically produced 'sinsemilla' | That's
better |
| Purity |
| The
method of selection and cultivation of homegrown or 'skunk' tend to produce cannabis
with greater average strength than 'imported herbal cannabis' or 'imported cannabis
resin' (i.e. greater amounts of the active ingredient 'tetrahydrocannabinol').
It is around twice as potent on average. |
Well, Frank
isn't going to tell you. This is information about strength, not purity. "Purity"
means does it have contaminants? The straight answer to that question is as long
as the plant is grown properly and not fed a diet of toxic chemicals, it will
be totally pure. Of
course, because of prohibition, there are no checks to make sure it is always
grown in a pure way, but any cannabis you grow yourself will be pure if you do
it right. Of course, Frank can't tell you that. The
information about strength comes from the recent European Monitoring Centre for
Drugs and Drug Addiction here Frank
doesn't mention that different varieties of cannabis have different effects though. |
| It
is not actually possible to tell whether a particular sample of 'skunk' will be
any higher potency than an equal amount of 'imported herbal cannabis' - because
the potencies overlap substantially. The potency anyway decreases over time in
storage and is affected by what parts of the plant have been included in the product
- so a consumer has little guarantee about the strength. The strength of the skunk
smell appears to be no guide to actual potency either |
What Franks
is trying not to say is the claims that cannabis is now much stronger than it
used to be are really not true. It's
because of prohibition that the consumer has no idea of how strong cannabis is,
but Frank can't tell you that either. Uncertain
strengths are a direct result of government policy and nothing else. |
| Effects |
| Clearly
a stronger 'joint' may have more powerful effects, but the user may inhale less
and use less to moderate this. | So,
used responsibly, stronger cannabis is safer than weaker cannabis. But again,
Frank can't actually tell you that. |
| Some
users may wish to purchase stronger herbal cannabis to obtain a stronger effect
but unpleasant reactions may also be more powerful with the use of stronger strains. |
Frank has
to end this on a negative note to keep the government happy. Most
people buy domestically produced cannabis for one reason only - it's way better
quality than the imported stuff. If
your dealer knows the grower - or if you grow it yourself of course - you'll also
know it's cleaner than imported cannabis. Also,
growing your own or buying from a home-grower avoids contact with the illegal
drug dealers, but that's something else Frank can't tell you. |
| Cost |
| £200
for skunk per ounce (price may vary). |
More like
£160 per ounce actually, if you do buy it in ounces of course. If you buy
in smaller amounts then it's going to cost more. Of
course, if you grow it yourself it's near enough free as long as you don't get
caught. |
| The
information Frank is giving is getting better, but very slowly and it's still
badly compromised by having to support the policy of prohibition. The
worst omission with this information is that Frank avoids warning that health
risks - especially regarding mental health - are mostly concerning children and
not adults, certainly not adults who use cannabis in a responsible way. If Frank
were to raise this issue, it would fuel demands for age limits on sales, something
not possible under prohibition. Back
to the government on drugs |
