Page 3 - Cannabis... is it just a drink? DEN + ALDAF 2019
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What are the effects? How long does Cannabis stay Pregnancy
Cannabis causes a wide range of effects: in the body? The total effects of THC exposure
during pregnancy are unclear,
but THC during pregnancy is
• Feeling relaxed and sleepy THC is fat soluble: it is absorbed and ‘stored’ linked to low birth weight. It is
• Spontaneous laughter in the fats of the body. This means it takes a safest for a pregnant person not
• Increased appetite longer time to leave the body than water- to use cannabis until after the
• Dry mouth soluble drugs like alcohol. 1 baby has stopped breastfeeding.
• Quiet reflective mood An infrequent user can expect THC to be Mental Illness
• Trouble concentrating removed from the body after about 3 days. Cannabis does not cause mental illness, but using
• Slower reflexes cannabis can trigger schizophrenia in people at risk
• Bloodshot eyes A frequent user can expect THC to be removed of developing the mental health condition. It can
• Mild anxiety and paranoia from the body after about 10 to 27 days. 2 also trigger psychosis for some people. These risks
increases with repeated use .
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• Increased risk taking
Cannabis can be detected in blood tests for up People who have experienced psychosis, who are
When smoked, these effects start within several minutes to four weeks, possibly longer. diagnosed with schizophrenia, or have a family
and last about 1 to 3 hours. If eaten, the effects start history of schizophrenia, should avoid using cannabis.
between 30 minutes and 2 hours after swallowing, and
may last several hours longer. The Law
Risks Driving
Cannabis use is associated with some risks to health: ‘Stoned’
Driving and Machinery It is illegal to
drive whilst under
How Cannabis makes a person’s reflexes slower, and affects the influence of
is it used? their ability to concentrate. A person who has smoked cannabis.
cannabis should not drive or operate any heavy
machinery until after the effects have passed.
Cannabis is typically
smoked, in a ‘joint’ (a hand-rolled Tolerance and Dependency
cigarette), in a smoking pipe, or in a Repeated use of cannabis over a period of time can It is illegal in Australia to use, possess, grow,
water-pipe known as a ‘bong’. cause tolerance – meaning the body needs a higher or sell cannabis. The penalties for cannabis
dose of the drug to achieve the same desired effect. offences vary from state to state. Check with
It can also be heated to a vapor and Repeated use can also cause dependency, where a your local state government or community law
person has a very strong desire to continue using the
inhaled, or eaten by mixing the oils or drug (even if there are negative consequences), and organisation for specific information.
dry plant matter into cookies or may have difficulty stopping. There are exemptions for medicinal use and medicinal
other sweets. growers through a small number of schemes. These
A person who has a cannabis dependency may processes are tightly regulated.
experience withdrawal effects, such as irritability and
loss of sleep if they try to stop. The Narcotic Drugs Amendment Bill (2016) deals with
the national licensing scheme to allow a legal and
safe supply of medicinal cannabis.