The effects

Often people try cannabis because their friends are doing it or they just want to see what it’s like. But when people begin to use it regularly, like every weekend, it can soon turn into a habit.

The body quickly gets used to the amount of cannabis used, meaning people have to take more and more to get the same effect they did when they first started using. When this happens it is more likely they will experience problems.

What are the effects of using cannabis?

Cannabis use can have different effects on people:

• Some may feel chilled out, relaxed and happy, while others have one puff and feel sick.
• Others get the giggles and may become talkative.
• Some become really hungry and 'get the munchies'.
• Users may become more aware of their senses or get a feeling of slowing of time, which are due to its hallucinogenic effects.
• Some feel more sensitive to things around them and sensations can seem different.
• Some concentrate less well and can have problems with their balance.
• Some are prone to panic attacks and paranoia.
• Short-term memory and attention may be affected and some people find it hard to complete tasks which involve doing several things at once.

Stronger 'joints' (e.g. typically when skunk or sinsemilla is used) may have more powerful effects. Some users may moderate this effect by actually inhaling and using less strong cannabis but others may find it becomes tempting to ‘binge smoke’ them.