Marijuana

What is marijuana?
In Slovakia, marijuana is an illegal drug with hallucinogenic, mildly sedative, but
also stimulating effects. It acts on the central and peripheral nervous system,
specifically on the endocannabinoid system. In addition to THC and CBD,
marijuana contains at least 82 other cannabinoids (active substances that bind
to cannabinoid receptors). THC causes euphoric feelings, drowsiness, and
increased appetite. CBD has calming effects and reduces pain. Cannabinoids in
their natural form are found mainly in cannabis flowers, but there are also
synthetic cannabinoids, which are chemical analogues of cannabinoids and bind
to the same receptors. While THC can cause dependence, CBD does not.

What are the effects of marijuana?
The effects of marijuana depend on many factors, such as the strain, the ratio
and content of cannabinoids, and the method of use. Marijuana strains are
commonly divided into Sativa (wide, dense, and voluminous flowers), Indica
(thinner, longer flowers), and hybrids. However, this classification does not always
accurately correspond to the expected effects, as these can be better estimated
based on the percentage content and ratio of cannabinoids. Simplified, it can be
said that Sativa has a higher THC-to-CBD ratio, Indica has a higher CBD-to-THC
ratio, and hybrids vary. More recently, marijuana types are classified as Type I
(higher THC content), Type II (THC/CBD combination), and Type III (higher CBD
content). Regarding specific strains (e.g., Haze, Cheese, Kush), more detailed THC
and CBD values are available online along with subjective effects, for example at
https://www.leafly.com/strains/lists.
Physical effects of marijuana include the so-called “body high,” which is usually
accompanied by a pleasant feeling of physical stimulation, a sense of stronger
gravity (or “falling backward”), and a feeling of bodily lightness as well as
heaviness. Some strains have mildly stimulating effects, but marijuana is generally associated with sedative effects. It increases appetite and hunger, but
dries out the mouth and eyes. At common doses, it relaxes muscles and reduces
nausea, but at high doses it can cause nausea. It increases heart rate and lowers
blood pressure. It impairs motor skills and can cause lethargy.
Cognitive effects are very diverse. Marijuana can help with anxiety, but it can also
cause it. Sometimes it worsens attention, other times it improves it, and
sometimes it causes complete focus on a single thing. It causes feelings of
euphoria and bouts of laughter, or an increased ability to enjoy activities. It
intensifies the experience of all kinds of emotions. Undesirable cognitive effects
include negative intrusive thoughts, panic states, derealization, and paranoia. It
often affects the perception of time, causes wandering thoughts, reduces
motivation, and impairs short-term memory. Sometimes it increases libido, other
times it decreases it. The psychedelic effects of marijuana are mainly visual and
tend to appear at higher doses or in people who use psychedelics (marijuana
can also sometimes cause “flashbacks,” meaning the re-emergence of previous
hallucinations, for example from LSD or DMT, without these substances being
used). These effects include, for example, geometric visual hallucinations
(especially with closed eyes), motion trails, more vivid colors, and distortion of
objects at the edges of the visual field.

How can I reduce risks associated with use?
Never use marijuana during pregnancy. If you do not use marijuana, you avoid all
risks. Marijuana is often described either as a substance that carries no serious risks, or,
conversely, as a gateway drug leading to addiction. The truth is more
complicated. The risk of developing dependence on marijuana is lower compared
to caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, or other drugs, with the exception of psychedelics.
However, long-term frequent use of marijuana does change the functioning of the
brain’s reward system. Ordinary activities may then seem boring, and motivation
to perform them decreases. Marijuana use can also trigger latent psychosis, long-
term anxiety, and paranoia. Therefore, do not use marijuana if you have mental
health problems, a predisposition to mental disorders, or cases of schizophrenia
in your family. Marijuana impairs the sense of time, slows reflexes, and affects
spatial perception, so avoid driving motor vehicles and be careful when crossing the street.

An overdose of THC is usually not life-threatening, but it represents a
very unpleasant state associated with severe nausea up to vomiting, unpleasant
hallucinations, and vivid nightmares. Most users report that they would never
want to experience such a state again. The risk of overdose is highest when
consuming marijuana edibles, so start with a small amount and wait at least 2
hours before using again. Various studies present conflicting opinions on the
increase of bad cholesterol, which may be related either to marijuana use itself or
to the common consumption of unhealthy food. Smoking marijuana increases the
likelihood of developing varicose veins. Long-term marijuana use may lead to
reduced immunity and susceptibility to respiratory diseases, especially when
smoked. Marijuana use increases the risk of tooth decay and oral candidiasis.
Dosing marijuana is difficult if the THC and CBD values of a given strain are
unknown. It also depends on the method of use. When smoking, a dose of 25–50
milligrams of marijuana is usually used. If you want to smoke marijuana you are
unfamiliar with, start with a smaller test dose.
Risks can also be reduced depending on the specific methods of use. The most
common method is smoking from a bong, in a cigarette with tobacco (a spliff), or
in a cigarette made purely of marijuana (a joint). There are also various types of
small pipes. The effects of smoking occur after approximately 5 minutes when
using a bong or pipe, or about 10 minutes when using a cigarette or joint. The
effects of smoking marijuana last 1–3 hours, but with stronger strains or higher
doses they may last longer. When smoking marijuana, THC and CBD enter the
body within the first seconds of inhalation—holding the smoke longer only has a
harmful effect on the lungs. The same applies to the depth of inhalation; very
deep inhalations only leave more tar in the lungs. Marijuana cigarettes also
cannot be smoked with a filter, because cannabinoids do not pass through it. As a
result, smoking marijuana delivers 3–5 times more tar to the lungs than smoking
filtered cigarettes. Smoking a marijuana cigarette with tobacco without a filter is
even more harmful. A joint can be rolled using a tobacco leaf or special paper
that is not made from tobacco. Smoking through a bong produces much stronger
effects when using the same amount compared to smoking marijuana cigarettes.
The water in a bong also cools the smoke, but on the other hand, you must inhale
the smoke more deeply for it to pass through. It is true that the water in a bong
filters out some harmful substances, but a large amount still remains. Avoid using
plastic bongs or those containing rubber or aluminum parts, as hot air releases

harmful substances from them. Using wooden or plastic pipes is more harmful
than using glass, brass, or stainless steel pipes. Never use cans for smoking, as hot
air releases harmful substances from the paint on the can. The harmful effects
associated with smoking marijuana can also be reduced by using a special
electronic or manual vaporizer, which does not burn marijuana but instead heats
it to vaporize the cannabinoids. This vapor contains minimal amounts of tar and
carcinogens. Marijuana flowers contain the highest amount of cannabinoids, so it
is advisable to remove leaves, stems, and seeds, as smoking them increases the
amount of smoke and tar you inhale. Change the water in the bong regularly, and
clean the bong or pipe with alcohol.
Since cannabinoids bind to fats and are only minimally soluble in water, the
second most common method of use involves so-called edibles, marijuana
butter, or gummy candies. Temperatures below 100°C during baking marijuana
into fats (ideally butter or margarine) do not burn the active substances and do
not release carcinogens. The active substances are metabolized through the liver
rather than the lungs, as with smoking. The effects therefore begin after 45–90
minutes, but they are also stronger and last 5 or more hours. Dosing is very
difficult to estimate, so start with a small amount and wait at least 2 hours before
using again. This method of use is the least harmful to the lungs, but the risk of
overdose or an unpleasant experience is the highest of all methods of use. Before
baking into fats, marijuana must be decarboxylated in a convection oven (around
120°C). Butter is commonly prepared using 5 grams of crushed marijuana, with 65
grams of fat used per 1 gram of marijuana. A simpler way of dosing is to use
marijuana butter when preparing baked goods (e.g., brownies), where the butter
is mixed into the batter and baked. Although the butter loses some potency, the
baked goods are easier to dose, making them safer.

Combining marijuana with other psychoactive substances – what
to avoid?
In general, it is not recommended to use marijuana together with psychedelics
(LSD, DMT, mushrooms, 2C-B, 25x-NBOMe) due to the increased risk of anxiety,
paranoia, or psychosis. This combination can also intensify hallucinations to an
unpleasant degree and cause impaired spatial orientation. Combining marijuana
with alcohol worsens motor skills, increases sedative effects, and increases the risk of vomiting. Using marijuana together with stimulants (cocaine,
methamphetamine, amphetamine) increases the risk of anxiety, paranoia,
psychosis, and unpleasant thought loops.

List of sources used:
https://psychonautwiki.org/wiki/Cannabis
https://drugscience.org.uk/drugs/depressants/cannabis
https://erowid.org/plants/cannabis/cannabis_basics.shtml
https://leafscience.com/2017/03/27/the-science-behind-marijuana-and-
motivation