Quick info
Cannabis products are produced from the hemp plant and belong to the group of cannabinoids. The most important active substances are THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol).
The most important of a total of 400 active ingredients are THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol), with THC being responsible for the majority of the psychoactive effects felt. CBD also has analgesic, sedative and narcotic effects.
The main cannabis active substances THC and CBD dock in the body to the cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2. This activates the body's own messenger substance endocannabinoid. This has a relaxing, appetite-stimulating, calming and pain-relieving effect. Feelings are intensified, serenity and/or groundless cheerfulness set in. The experience of time is changed, usually slowed down. In high doses and CBD-free varieties, cannabis can have hallucinogenic effects. Since it is usually consumed together with tobacco, the joint-typical effect is an interaction between cannabis and tobacco. This usually leads to an intensification and prolongation of the effect, as tobacco inhibits the degradation of endocannabinoids.
Light (3-5 mg THC): from 23 mg flowers, from 21 mg hashish.
Medium (10-20 mg THC): from 75 mg flowers, from 70 mg hashish.
Strong (20 mg and more THC): from 150 mg flowers, from 140 mg hashish
The main active ingredient content and the ratio of THC to CBD differ greatly depending on the product. Therefore, the dosage is difficult to determine. Hashish contains on average more THC and mostly CBD. Outdoor weed varieties contain less THC and less CBD, while indoor weed varieties contain mainly THC and rarely CBD.
Forms of consumption:
Cannabis products are mostly mixed with tobacco and smoked (joints, hookah, shilom, bong, vaporizer, etc.), less frequently drunk (as tea) or eaten (spacecakes, yoghurt). The oral form of consumption, i.e. eating or drinking cannabis products, has a considerably stronger and longer effect than smoked cannabis products.
Onset of action
Smoked: within 20 to 90 seconds
Eaten: after 20 minutes - 2 hours (depending on the preparation method and stomach contents).
Duration of action
Smoked: 2-4 hours
Eaten: 8-14 hours (!)
Appearances
Marijuana (weed) consists of dried flowers and young leaves of the female plant; hashish (shit) is the dried resin from the glandular hairs of the plant. The resin can also be processed into oil.
Increase in heart rate and pulse rate, reddening of the eyes, dry mouth, excessive feeling of hunger (binge eating), dizziness, nausea and vomiting, general impairment of the ability to concentrate and remember during intoxication, as well as unpleasant intensification of feelings or introversion, drifting into one's own world of thoughts. At high doses and varieties with little CBD, circulatory problems up to circulatory collapse, in the worst case paranoia and depressive moods may occur.
When consuming cannabis products, the dosage is more difficult to estimate, making the risks and side effects more unpredictable.
Long-term risks:
With frequent and regular use, there is a risk of psychological dependence. Symptoms of mild physical dependence may also manifest themselves; in the case of sudden abstinence, sweating, hot/cold shivers, loss of appetite and difficulty falling asleep as well as irritability are possible. In the case of chronic use, there is a danger of loss of reality; latent psychoses can be triggered. In addition, long-term impairment of short-term memory and the ability to motivate oneself is possible.
Smoking, especially when mixed with tobacco, increases susceptibility to respiratory problems (bronchitis, tracheitis, pneumonia, etc.) when consumed chronically. Due to the deeper inhalation as well as poorer filtering methods (such as cardboard filters), joints are more harmful to the lungs than cigarettes.
Currently, many misdeclared and stretched cannabis products are in circulation. Therefore, use cannabis drug checking if possible and follow the safer use instructions for synthetic cannabinoids.
When using new cannabis products for the first time, try a small amount first to see if you notice any suspicious effects (e.g. rapid onset of effects, unusually strong effects, etc.).
Cannabis products temporarily affect the ability to remember and concentrate. Consumption at work and at school is therefore not advisable.
When smoking, make sure you use good filtering methods (activated carbon filters) or use a vaporizer.
Since cannabis products are used mixed with tobacco, there is also a tobacco addiction with daily use. There are some tobacco substitutes such as damiana or coltsfoot that you can use instead of tobacco.
Eating or drinking cannabis products is easy on the lungs, but the effects are stronger and more unpredictable than smoking. The risk of very high and highly psychoactive doses is high. Carefully approach the right dose, don't add more right away!
Since the brain is developing until the age of 25, you should not use regularly until that age. You are more likely to be exposed to side effects and long-term risks from cannabis use.
Do not consume if you are not well, latent psychoses could be triggered.
In the case of mental illness, cannabis can aggravate the course of the disease or lead to relapses.
Cannabis use should be avoided in cases of lung disease and existing heart conditions or heart disease.
Known extenders in cannabis include Brix (liquid mixture of plastic, sugar and hormones), sand, talc/soapstone, sugar, hairspray, glass particles, spices, lead and phospor/potassium fertilizer. The goal of these non-psychoactive extenders is to add weight or visually enhance the cannabis. Burning and inhaling these substances can cause respiratory problems, lung damage, coughing, and sore throats. Many of these extenders are visually detectable, e.g. via residues in the grip (sand, talc), or an altered smell/taste (brix, sugar) or consistency (hairspray).
Psychoactive extenders include synthetic cannabinoids - these are sprayed on legally produced CBD cannabis to sell it profitably as THC-containing cannabis. Unlike other extenders such as Brix or sand, synthetic cannabinoids are not recognizable to consumers.
LSD analogues are substances that are chemically very similar to LSD and can have comparable effects. Some of them have been known for a long time (e.g. ALD52, ETH-LAD, AL-LAD, PRO-LAD etc.) and have been studied pharmacologically as well as psychopharmacologically, at least in part. Others are newer "creations" (e.g. the derivatives 1P-LSD,1B-LSD, 1cP-LSD, 1V-LSDetc.), for which only few or no data are available. Certain LSD analogues can (still) be legally produced, traded and consumed in some countries, which is the main reason for their distribution.
Most LSD analogues are naturally different from LSD in their effect and/or potency (e.g. ETH-LAD, AL-LAD, LSZ etc.). In contrast, the so-called 1-acylated LSD compounds (e.g. 1P-LSD, 1V-LSD, 1B-LSD, ALD-52, etc.) are presumed, on the basis of pharmacological studies, to convert into LSD in the body (they function as so-called prodrugs) and thus have a comparable psychoactive effect to LSD.
In the case of prodrugs of LSD and LSD analogues, it has not been conclusively clarified whether, in addition to their psychoactive effect, they can produce other pharmacological effects. How potent these prodrugs are compared to the resulting substance (e.g., 1P-LSD to LSD), and to what extent a delay in onset of action occurs in each case, may be substance-dependent and cannot be generalized. Therefore, it is important to approach the dose/effect carefully to avoid overdoses.
If you or someone else needs urgent help after taking drugs or alcohol, call an ambulance on 144. Tell the emergency responders everything you know.
It could save lives.