DEA Drug Fact Sheet: Marijuana/Cannabis

Marijuana is a mind-altering (psychoactive) drug produced by the Cannabis sativa plant. It contains over 480 constituents, with THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) believed to be the main ingredient responsible for its psychoactive effects.

Origin and Appearance

• Origin: Marijuana is grown globally, including in the United States, Canada, Mexico, South America, the Caribbean, and Asia. It is cultivated in both indoor and outdoor settings.
• Appearance: It is a dry, shredded green/brown mixture of flowers, stems, seeds, and leaves from the plant. The mixture can be green, brown, or gray and may resemble tobacco.
• Common Street Names: Aunt Mary, BC Bud, Blunts, Chronic, Dope, Ganja, Grass, Hash, Herb, Joint, Mary Jane, Pot, Reefer, Sinsemilla, Skunk, Weed, and Yerba.

Methods of Abuse

Marijuana is consumed in several ways:

• Smoking: Usually smoked as a cigarette (joint), or in a pipe or bong.
• Blunts: Smoked in cigars that have been emptied of tobacco and refilled with marijuana.
• Ingestion: Mixed into foods or brewed as a tea.

Effects of Use

Effect on the Mind

When smoked, THC passes from the lungs into the bloodstream and eventually to the brain. It connects to cannabinoid receptors on nerve cells, influencing parts of the brain related to pleasure, memory, thought, concentration, sensory/time perception, and coordinated movement.

• Short-term mental effects: Memory and learning problems, distorted perception, difficulty thinking, and loss of coordination.
• High-dose or inexperienced use: May lead to disorganized thinking, inability to converse logically, agitation, paranoia, confusion, anxiety, and panic attacks.
• Long-term use: Can lead to physical dependence, withdrawal symptoms, and psychological addiction.

Effect on the Body

• Physical reactions: Dizziness, nausea, tachycardia (increased heart rate), facial flushing, dry mouth, tremor, bloodshot eyes, and increased blood pressure.
• Respiratory issues: Smokers may experience bronchitis, emphysema, and bronchial asthma.
• Other effects: Increased appetite (“the munchies”) and potential suppression of the immune system over extended use.

Overdose and Withdrawal

• Overdose: No deaths from a marijuana overdose have been reported.
• Withdrawal: Symptoms from chronic use include headaches, shakiness, sweating, stomach pains, nausea, restlessness, irritability, and sleep difficulties.

Similar Substances

• Hashish (Hash): Consists of THC-rich resinous material compressed into balls, cakes, or sheets. It is stronger than marijuana.
• Hashish Oil: A liquid extract produced with a solvent; a drop or two can be equal to a single joint.

Legal Status in the United States

Marijuana is a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act, meaning it has a high potential for abuse and no federally accepted medical use. While some states allow medicinal use, the FDA has not approved marijuana for any clinical indication.

FDA-Approved Synthetic/Related Products:

• Marinol (Schedule III): Synthetic THC used for nausea from chemotherapy and to stimulate appetite in AIDS patients.
• Syndros (Schedule II): Oral dronabinol solution for anorexia and weight loss.
• Epidiolex (Schedule V): Oral CBD solution used to treat specific epilepsy conditions (Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome).