Saskatchewan Federation of Police Officers 19 What is it? Cannabis is a product of the cannabis sativa plant that is used for its psychoactive and therapeutic effects. It comes in many forms, including as dried flowers and leaves; hash; extracts, such as oil (e.g., honey oil, phoenix tears) and shatter; and edibles (e.g., candies, butter or baked goods). Cannabis contains hundreds of chemical substances. More than 100 chemicals, called cannabinoids, have been identified as specific to the cannabis plant. THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) is the main psychoactive cannabinoid and is most responsible for the “high” associated with cannabis use. Another cannabinoid is cannabidiol (CBD). CBD has little or no psychoactive effects, so you do not feel high. CBD counteracts some of the negative effects of THC. Where does it come from? The cannabis sativa plant is native to tropical and temperate climates but is cultivated around the world. What does it look like? Cannabis is the dried flower buds and leaves of the cannabis plant. Its colour ranges from grayish-green to greenish-brown and may contain seeds and stems. Hash is the dried, compressed resin of cannabis flower buds. It ranges in colour from brown to black, and it is sold in chunks. Oil is made by boiling cannabis flower buds or resin in an organic solvent, which produces a sticky reddish-brown or green substance. The THC content of each variety of cannabis varies, although hash is generally more potent than the plant, and oil is usually the most potent form of cannabis. Cannabis can be used in many different ways. For instance, it may be rolled into a cigarette (called a joint), mixed with and rolled into a joint (called a spliff), or packed into a pipe or bong and then smoked. Cannabis can also be vaped.The extracts (such as oil or shatter) are often dabbed with an oil rig pipe, called a dab rig. Cannabis may also be used as an ingredient in food. Who uses it? According to the Canadian Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs Survey, 3.6 million (12 per cent) of Canadians used cannabis in 2015. Of that population, 24 per cent said they used cannabis for medical reasons. How does it make you feel? How cannabis affects you depends on: • how much you use • how often and how long you’ve used it • whether you smoke, vape or eat it • your mood, your expectations and the environment you’re in • your age • whether you have certain pre-existing medical or psychiatric conditions • whether you’ve taken any alcohol or other drugs (illegal, prescription, over-the-counter or herbal). People can have very different experiences with cannabis. Some may feel relaxed, lively, talkative, giggly and even euphoric, while others feel tense, anxious, fearful and confused. The kind of experience you may have can vary from one drug-taking episode to another, usually because of the amount taken, the method used and the frequency of regular cannabis use. Cannabis is a psychoactive drug that is used for recreational and medical purposes. Official Name - Cannabis Street Name - Cannabis (marijuana, weed, pot, bud, green, herb or flower), hash, extracts (honey oil, phoenix tears, shatter), edibles Cannabis (continued)
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