Cannabis (also known as marijuana, weed, dope or grass) is the most widely used illegal drug in the world.
Cannabis (also known as marijuana, weed, dope or grass) is the most widely used illegal drug in the world.
The effects of cannabis vary from person to person:
Cannabis can have other effects too:
If you use cannabis regularly it can make you demotivated and uninterested in other things going on in your life, such as education or work. Long-term use can affect your ability to learn and to concentrate.
In the past cannabis wasn’t thought to be addictive. However, research has shown that it can be addictive, particularly if you have been using it regularly for quite a while. About 10% of regular cannabis users are thought to become dependent.
As with other addictive drugs such as cocaine and heroin, you can develop a tolerance to it. This means you have to have more and more to get the same effects. If you stop taking it, you can experience withdrawal symptoms, such as cravings,
, mood swings, irritability and restlessness.If you regularly smoke cannabis with tobacco, you’re likely to get addicted to nicotine and may develop tobacco-related illnesses, such as
and . If you cut down or give up, you will experience withdrawal from nicotine as well as cannabis.See tips for stopping smoking.
Recent research has helped us better understand the health risks from using cannabis. We know that:
The risks linked to using cannabis do seem to be higher for people who use it regularly from an early age, including the risk of developing a mental illness.
It’s not clear why the risks are higher for people who start using cannabis when young. It may be linked to the fact that, during the teenage years, the brain is still forming its connections and cannabis interferes with this process.
Herbal cannabis contains many different compounds, called cannabinoids, which have different effects. Two of these cannabinoids – tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) – are the active ingredients of a prescribed drug called Sativex. Currently this is only licensed in the UK as a treatment to relieve the pain of muscle spasms in
.Further research is under way to test the effectiveness of cannabis-based drugs for a range of other conditions including the eye disease
, appetite loss in people with , in children and pain associated with cancer. We won’t know whether or not these treatments are effective until trials have concluded.See more on clinical trials involving cannabis .
While most people who use harder drugs like heroin have used cannabis, only a small proportion of people who use cannabis go on to use hard drugs. However, buying cannabis brings you into contact with the illegal drugs trade, making it more likely that you will be exposed to other drugs.
You’ll find more information about cannabis in the Frank website’s A-Z of drugs.
Important: Our website provides useful information but is not a substitute for medical advice. You should always seek the advice of your doctor when making decisions about your health.