What is cannabis?
Marijuana refers to the dried leaves, flowers, stems and seeds of the hemp plant, Cannabis sativa. The plant contains the chemical delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and other related compounds.
THC is the part of the plant that gives the ‘high’. THC potency varies widely between cannabis products.
Cannabis can be grown in almost any climate and is increasingly cultivated using indoor hydroponic technology.
Forms of cannabis
Cannabis is used in three main forms: marijuana, hashish and hash oil.
- Marijuana is made from the dried flowers and leaves of the cannabis plant. It is the least potent cannabis product and is usually smoked.
- Hashish is made from the resin (a secreted gum) of the cannabis plant. It is dried and pressed into small blocks and smoked. It can also be added to food and eaten.
- Hash oil is the most potent cannabis product. It is a thick oil obtained from hashish and is also smoked.
Cannabis is usually smoked in hand-rolled cigarettes (‘joints’) or in special water pipes (‘bongs’). Pipes and bongs can be bought or made from household items such as orange juice containers and soft drink cans.