WHAT IS MARIJUANA?

Marijuana is one of the most commonly abused drugs in the world. According to the World Health Organization, 200 million people use marijuana each year.¹ In the United States, marijuana is the most commonly used psychotropic drug (a drug that affects a person’s mental state) after alcohol, with nearly 12 million young adults reporting marijuana use within one year.²

There is a significant gap between the scientific facts about marijuana and the myths surrounding it. Many people believe that, because it is legal in some places, marijuana must be harmless. However, the body doesn’t know the difference between a legal drug and an illegal one—it only knows the effect the drug creates. The purpose of this publication is to clear up some of the misconceptions about marijuana.

Marijuana comes from the cannabis plant. The mind-altering substance is mainly found in the flowers (commonly called buds), with smaller amounts in the seeds, leaves and stems.

Hashish is a dark to light brown substance scraped from the surface of the cannabis plant and pressed into a solid mass. It is then dried and formed into bars, sticks or balls.

CHEMICAL CONTENT

Marijuana and hashish contain over 500 chemicals. The chemical responsible for intoxication is THC (short for tetrahydrocannabinol). THC creates the psychoactive effects (affecting the brain and altering mood, perception or consciousness) that classify marijuana as a drug.³

Plants have traits to protect themselves in the wild, such as toxins that make animals sick or weak. THC serves as the protective mechanism of the marijuana plant.⁴

Delta-8* and other THC products are derived from the cannabis plant. These substances, often sold for vaping or as edibles, are largely unregulated and can have dangerous side effects. They are often modified to increase potency and may contain harmful chemicals.⁵

Some people believe marijuana is harmless because it is a plant and therefore “natural.” However, many natural plants can be harmful or poisonous.

Burning dried leaves and inhaling the smoke is not natural. Inhaling marijuana smoke also involves inhaling other harmful chemicals.⁶

You may have heard of “medical marijuana.” Marijuana contains a chemical called CBD (short for cannabidiol), which is associated with potential health benefits, especially for epilepsy and chronic pain. Unlike THC, CBD does not cause a high, but studies show that use over a long period of time or at high dosages can cause liver damage and stomach issues.⁷

Marijuana is a drug and, like other drugs, has harmful side effects, which this booklet will cover.

* Delta-8: a form of THC derived from the cannabis plant. Delta-8, Delta-9 and other Delta products are different forms of THC used in edibles and vapes.