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Culture Documents
Cannabis (drug)
Contents
1 History
1.1 Medical use
1.2 New breeding and cultivation techniques
2 Criminalization and legalization
3 Effects
3.1 Health issues
3.2 Relationship with other drugs
3.3 Classification
4 Methods of consumption
4.1 Smoking
4.2 Vaporization
4.3 Eating
4.4 Other methods
5 References
1 History
Evidence of the inhalation of cannabis smoke can be
found as far back as the Neolithic age, as indicated by
charred cannabis seeds found in a ritual brazier at an
ancient burial site in present day Romania. The most
famous users of cannabis were the ancient Hindus of
India and Nepal, and the Hashshashins (hashish eaters)
of present day Syria. The herb was called ganjika in
Sanskrit The ancient drug soma, mentioned in the Vedas
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What was well observed in the Dutch study was that the
effects based from a single dose—the smoking of one
piece of a joint for 20–25 minutes—lasted for more than
eight hours. The reaction time was still significantly
slower about five hours after smoking. At that time, the
THC serum concentration was low, but still present. This
means that even when individuals have the impression
that their state has returned to baseline and that they
can smoke another piece of joint, the effect of the first
joint may be still present. When subjects smoke on
several occasions per day, accumulation of THC may
occur.
3 Effects
Cannabis has psychoactive and physiological effects
when consumed, usually by smoking or ingestion. The
minimum amount of THC required to have a perceptible
psychoactive effect is about 10 micrograms per kilogram
of body weight (which, in practical terms, is a varying
amount, dependent upon potency). A related compound,
Δ9-tetrahydrocannabivarin, also known as THCV, is
produced in appreciable amounts by certain drug
strains. This cannabinoid has been described in the
popular literature as having shorter-acting, flashier
effects than THC, but recent studies suggest that it may
actually inhibit the effects of THC. Relatively high levels
of THCV are common in African dagga (marijuana), and
in hashish from the northwest Himalayas.
3.3 Classification
While many drugs clearly fall into the category of either
Stimulant, Depressant, Hallucinogen, or Antipsychotic,
cannabis, containing both THC and CBD, exhibits a mix
of all sections, leaning towards the Hallucinogen section
due to THC being the primary constituent.
4 Methods of consumption
"Buds"
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*Kief:
Hashish
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4.1 Smoking
Joints
4.2 Vaporization
A vaporizer heats herbal cannabis to 365–410 °F (185–
210 °C), which turns the active ingredients into gas
without burning the plant material (the boiling point of
THC is 392 °F (200°C) at 0.02 mm Hg pressure, and
somewhat higher at standard atmospheric pressure). A
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4.3 Eating
As an alternative to smoking, cannabis may be
consumed orally.