-
Dried flower buds (marijuana)
-
A gram of kief
-
Hashish
-
Hash oil
-
Infusion (dairy butter)
LAs cannabis shipment scene in 2025? LA Cannabis Delivery 2025: Your Ultimate Guide . Its not practically getting your weed supplied any longer; its an entire various ballgame. Reflect a couple of years, and it was all about discovering a trusted service, hoping they had what you wanted, and waiting ... often of what felt like for life. Currently? The landscape is transforming at terminal velocity.
Were speaking hyper-personalized experiences, driven by information and AI. Think of an application that discovers your choices, suggests new pressures based on your past acquisitions and even the climate, and provides curated pairings with snacks and films. Thats not sci-fi; thats where were heading.
The competition is tough, pressing companies to innovate beyond simply speed and choice. Expect to see even more focus on sustainable packaging, ethically sourced items, and partnerships with regional artists and neighborhood companies. Distribution motorists are coming to be brand ambassadors, well-informed about the items and able to provide informed suggestions.
And allows not fail to remember the modern technology. Drone distribution could still be a pipe dream, yet anticipate to see optimized directing formulas, real-time monitoring, and seamless integration with other way of living apps. The regulatory atmosphere is constantly changing, as well, so services require to be active and adapt rapidly to remain compliant.
In short, LAs marijuana shipment scene in 2025 is much less around merely getting a product and even more about an entire experience. Its hassle-free, personalized, honest, and tech-forward. Twist up; its going to be a fascinating adventure.
Okay, so youre thinking of supplying marijuana in Los Angeles in 2025? Incredible. Yet before you also dream of hitting the road with those eco-friendly rewards, youve obtained ta cover your head around the laws and compliance. Consider it as navigating a lawful maze, a truly in-depth and potentially complicated one.
Its not almost following the policies, its regarding comprehending why those policies exist. Theyre there to shield consumers, make sure product safety and security, and keep the market liable.
And trust me, the legal landscape is continuously shifting. Whats real today may be dated tomorrow. So, staying notified is crucial. Register for market e-newsletters, participate in workshops, perhaps even hire a consultant who focuses on cannabis regulation. It might appear like a pain, yet its means far better than encountering fines, shedding your license, or even worse.
Eventually, grasping the regulatory side of marijuana distribution isn't just about preventing problem. Its concerning building a lasting and reliable service. Its about showing that youre devoted to doing points the right way, which develops depend on with your clients and strengthens the entire market. So, dive in, do your research, and navigate that lawful puzzle like a pro. Your future success depends on it.
Okay, so youre seeking the most effective means to obtain your marijuana delivered in LA in 2025? Think of this as your friendly community overview, not some dry, corporate record. "" Leading Marijuana Distribution Providers in LA (2025 )"" isn't just a search term; its a guarantee of ease and high quality, tailored to the future of the LA marijuana scene.
By 2025, the landscape will likely be a lot more affordable than it is now. Were chatting faster shipment times, maybe even drone shipment in some areas (who understands?), and most definitely a wider range of items, from artisanal edibles to top-shelf blossom. The solutions that will absolutely attract attention will certainly be the ones that focus on customer experience. Believe tailored recommendations based on your past acquisitions, commitment programs that in fact compensate you, and unbelievably responsive client service.
Its not nearly marketing weed. Its concerning recognizing your needs, giving a smooth and very discreet experience, and building a connection with you as a consumer. The "" utmost guide"" component is available in because well be considering an entire variety of aspects: product high quality, delivery rate, prices, consumer testimonials, and also their commitment to sustainability and honest sourcing. In 2025, just having marijuana to provide wont suffice. The top solutions will certainly be the ones that are introducing, adapting, and really listening to what LAs marijuana customers desire. Theyll be the ones that make obtaining your favored items a wind, leaving you with more time to appreciate them.
Okay, so lets speak about what cannabis distribution may resemble in 2025 in Los Angeles, thinking about technology and advancement. Fail to remember the picture of a beat-up auto pulling up with a baggie-- were discussing a whole new level of sophistication.
One major pattern will absolutely be hyper-personalization. Believe formulas that not just recommend items based on your previous acquisitions, but additionally consider things like the weather condition, your state of mind (possibly amassed from your social networks activity-- a little creepy, yet possible!), and even local occasions. The distribution application will certainly come to be a virtual budtender, offering recommendations customized precisely to what you require then.
Beyond that, expect to see a great deal more automation. Drones are the evident, advanced response, but genuinely, well most likely see advanced shipment robots navigating pathways and roads. These might be temperature-controlled to ensure product quality and equipped with sophisticated safety and security to prevent burglary. The human aspect will not disappear entirely, but itll most likely shift to more customized functions, like curating product options and giving professional examinations via video call.
One more big area is traceability and openness. Blockchain modern technology can be used to track every step of the cannabis journey, from seed to distribution, ensuring quality and authenticity. Clients will certainly have the ability to scan a QR code on their package and see precisely where their product originated from, how it was expanded, and that handled it along the way. This builds trust fund and combats the illicit market.
Finally, take into consideration the integration of shipment solutions with other aspects of life. Visualize purchasing cannabis along with your grocery stores or having it advised as an enhance to your supper appointment. As legalization spreads and acceptance expands, marijuana shipment will end up being flawlessly incorporated into the fabric of daily life in Los Angeles, powered by wise modern technology and a concentrate on making the experience practical, individualized, and trustworthy. Its not nearly getting cannabis delivered; its regarding improving the entire customer experience.
Allows admit it, by 2025, customers aren't going to be wowed by just obtaining marijuana supplied. Its going to be the norm . The genuine differentiator, the thing that makes a shipment service stand apart, will certainly be exceeding customer expectations around the whole shipment experience.
Think of it. People anticipate openness. They wish to know specifically when their order will show up, not simply a vague "" at some point this afternoon."" Real-time tracking, like you get with your pizza or that new pair of shoes, will certainly be vital.
Past monitoring, consumers will certainly require a smooth and personalized experience. Bearing in mind past orders, supplying tailored recommendations based on preferences, and tailoring promotions to private requirements will be crucial. Its regarding making the customer really feel valued and understood.
And lets not ignore rate and dependability. While convenience is a major draw, late distributions or inaccurate orders are a recipe for calamity. Services will certainly need to enhance their paths, invest in trustworthy lorries, and have robust quality assurance actions in place to make certain a smooth and exact distribution every single time.
Lastly, and probably most significantly, the human element will certainly still matter. Friendly, knowledgeable, and discreet delivery drivers will certainly be crucial. Theyre the face of the brand name, and a favorable communication can leave a lasting impact. In 2025, the distribution experience will certainly be more than just obtaining marijuana; it will certainly have to do with constructing trust and loyalty via remarkable service.
Okay, so lets discuss keeping points secure worldwide of cannabis shipment by 2025. Its not nearly getting the product from point A to factor B; its regarding doing it properly. Were speaking about safeguarding the distribution vehicle driver, securing the product, and shielding the community.
Think of it: a motorist is possibly lugging a valuable item, making them a target. So, things like GPS tracking, panic buttons that immediately alert authorities, and also discreet communication methods are mosting likely to be vital. Perhaps even utilizing security companions in high-risk locations comes to be standard.
Then theres the item itself. Tamper-proof product packaging is a must, obviously. Yet beyond that, think of secure storage in the distribution car. Maybe an enhanced, locked container thats only easily accessible with details authorization. Age verification is also paramount. Were talking about durable ID scanning and verification processes to ensure only adults are getting distributions.
Ultimately, theres the community aspect. Delivery paths need to be optimized to lessen disturbance and avoid delicate locations like schools. Clear interaction with customers concerning shipment times and treatments is essential to stop misconceptions. And companies require to be proactively associated with neighborhood outreach, showing their commitment to being accountable members of the neighborhood. Eventually, safety and security and protection in marijuana distribution in 2025 will certainly be a multi-layered technique, integrating technology, training, and a genuine commitment to public safety. Its regarding constructing trust and making sure that this progressing market operates sensibly and fairly.
Sustainability in marijuana distribution? It could seem a little counterproductive in the beginning. Were discussing getting an item delivered, frequently in single-use packaging, driven by a lorry that burns gas, right? But even in the world of LA cannabis shipment in 2025, sustainability is becoming less of an alternative and even more of a need.
Think of it. Customers, particularly in a place like Los Angeles, are increasingly familiar with their ecological footprint. They wish to support services that straighten with their values. That suggests selecting distribution solutions that focus on environmentally friendly techniques. Were talking electrical vehicle fleets, maximizing shipment paths to lower gas usage, and utilizing biodegradable or compostable packaging.
Beyond just customer need, sustainability makes great company feeling. Lowering waste cuts expenses. Improving efficiency saves money on fuel. And positioning yourself as a green-minded company attracts a faithful consumer base.
In 2025, expect to see much more innovative strategies. Possibly drone shipment in particular areas to minimize automobile discharges. Perhaps collaborations with regional composting programs to take care of packaging waste. Subscription services could supply discounts for clients that opt for reusable containers.
Eventually, sustainability in marijuana shipment isn't almost being eco responsible; its about building a durable and successful service for the long haul. Its about acknowledging that a healthy world and a healthy and balanced bottom line can, and should, go hand in hand. And in an open market like LA, thats a rather powerful combination.
View Goat Global in a full screen map
Marijuana in The golden state has actually been legal for clinical usage considering that 1996, and for leisure use because late 2016. The state of California has actually been at the center of efforts to liberalize marijuana regulations in the USA, beginning in 1972 with the nation's very first ballot initiative trying to legalize marijuana (Proposal 19). Although it was unsuccessful, The golden state would later on come to be the initial state to legalize medical cannabis via the Compassionate Use Act of 1996 (Suggestion 215), which passed with 56% voter authorization. In November 2016, The golden state voters accepted the Grownup Use of Marijuana Act (Suggestion 64) with 57% of the vote, which legalized the recreational use marijuana. As a result of leisure legalization, local governments (city and area) may not ban adults from expanding, utilizing, or carrying marijuana for personal use. Industrial activities can be controlled or banned by city governments although distributions can not be prohibited. Adhering to entertainment legalisation, existing farmers and providers of medical marijuana were required to register, comply with policies, and apply for permits. Over fifty percent of the nonprofit dispensaries lawfully giving medical cannabis shut. Neighborhood companies have been sluggish to authorize retail stores offering marijuana for recreational objectives with the majority of cities and areas banning retail with a wait and see technique. Lots of existing growers have been slow-moving to look for licenses as it has actually been estimated that 60 percent or more of all marijuana consumed in the USA originates from north The golden state. The export of cannabis to various other states stays prohibited because the U. S. Drug Enforcement Administration considers it a Schedule I drug. Reducing prohibited task is taken into consideration essential for the success of lawful procedures that pay the significant taxes evaluated by state and neighborhood authorities. Many people do not have close-by retail stores selling cannabis and remain to buy from unlicensed vendors. Prohibited expanding proceeds in remote backwoods. Raids and confiscation by police of illegal retail and expand operations has actually continued and in many cases stepped up after legalization. California's primary governing agencies were at first the Bureau of Cannabis Control (BCC), Division of Food and Farming, and Department of Public Health And Wellness. Their duties were combined under the Department of Marijuana Control in 2021.
.Marijuana () is a genus of flowering plants in the family members Cannabaceae that is extensively accepted as being aboriginal to and stemming from the continent of Asia. However, the variety of types is contested, with as many as three species being identified: Cannabis sativa, C. indica, and C. ruderalis. Conversely, C. ruderalis might be included within C. sativa, or all three may be treated as subspecies of C. sativa, or C. sativa may be accepted as a single undivided species. The plant is additionally referred to as hemp, although this term is usually used to refer only to ranges cultivated for non-drug use. Hemp has long been used for fiber, seeds and their oils, leaves for use as veggies, and juice. Industrial hemp fabric items are made from marijuana plants chosen to generate a wealth of fibre. Marijuana also has a long history of being used for medical functions, and as an entertainment medicine known by numerous vernacular terms, such as cannabis, pot or weed. Various marijuana pressures have been reproduced, often uniquely to generate high or reduced levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a cannabinoid and the plant's major psychoactive constituent. Substances such as hashish and hash oil are removed from the plant. Extra recently, there has actually been passion in other cannabinoids like cannabidiol (CBD), cannabigerol (CBG), and cannabinol (CBN).
.
Cannabis | |
---|---|
![]() Cannabis in the drying phase
|
|
Pronunciation |
|
Source plant(s) | Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, Cannabis ruderalis[a] |
Part(s) of plant | Flower and fruit |
Geographic origin | Central or South Asia |
Active ingredients | Tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabidiol, cannabinol, tetrahydrocannabivarin |
Main producers | Afghanistan, Canada, China, Colombia, India, Jamaica, Lebanon, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Pakistan, Paraguay, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States |
Legal status |
Part of a series on |
Cannabis |
---|
![]() |
|
Cannabis (/ˈkænÉ™bɪs/),[2] commonly known as marijuana (/ËŒmærəˈwÉ‘ËnÉ™/),[3] weed, pot, and ganja, among other names, is a non-chemically uniform psychoactive drug from the Cannabis plant. Native to Central or South Asia, cannabis has been used as a drug for both recreational and entheogenic purposes and in various traditional medicines for centuries. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the main psychoactive component of cannabis, which is one of the 483 known compounds in the plant, including at least 65 other cannabinoids, such as cannabidiol (CBD). Cannabis can be used by smoking, vaporizing, within food, or as an extract.
Cannabis has various mental and physical effects, which include euphoria, altered states of mind and sense of time, difficulty concentrating, impaired short-term memory, impaired body movement (balance and fine psychomotor control), relaxation, and an increase in appetite. Onset of effects is felt within minutes when smoked, but may take up to 90 minutes when eaten (as orally consumed drugs must be digested and absorbed). The effects last for two to six hours, depending on the amount used. At high doses, mental effects can include anxiety, delusions (including ideas of reference), hallucinations, panic, paranoia, and psychosis. There is a strong relation between cannabis use and the risk of psychosis, though the direction of causality is debated. Physical effects include increased heart rate, difficulty breathing, nausea, and behavioral problems in children whose mothers used cannabis during pregnancy; short-term side effects may also include dry mouth and red eyes. Long-term adverse effects may include addiction, decreased mental ability in those who started regular use as adolescents,[4] chronic coughing, susceptibility to respiratory infections, and cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome.
Cannabis is mostly used recreationally or as a medicinal drug, although it may also be used for spiritual purposes. In 2013, between 128 and 232 million people used cannabis (2.7% to 4.9% of the global population between the ages of 15 and 65). It is the most commonly used largely-illegal drug in the world, with the highest use among adults in Zambia, the United States, Canada, and Nigeria. Since the 1970s, the potency of illicit cannabis has increased, with THC levels rising and CBD levels dropping.
Cannabis plants have been grown since at least the 3rd millennium BCE and there is evidence of it being smoked for its psychoactive effects around 500 BCE in the Pamir Mountains, Central Asia. Since the 14th century, cannabis has been subject to legal restrictions. The possession, use, and cultivation of cannabis has been illegal in most countries since the 20th century. In 2013, Uruguay became the first country to legalize recreational use of cannabis. Other countries to do so are Canada, Georgia, Germany, Luxembourg, Malta, South Africa, and Thailand. In the U.S., the recreational use of cannabis is legalized in 24 states, 3 territories, and the District of Columbia, though the drug remains federally illegal. In Australia, it is legalized only in the Australian Capital Territory.
Cannabis is a Scythian word.[5][6][7] The ancient Greeks learned of the use of cannabis by observing Scythian funerals, during which cannabis was consumed.[6] In Akkadian, cannabis was known as qunubu (ðޝðŽ«ðŽ ðŽð‚).[6] The word was adopted in to the Hebrew as qaneh bosem (×§Ö¸× Ö¶×” בֹּשׂ×).[6]
Medical cannabis, or medical marijuana, refers to the use of cannabis to treat disease or improve symptoms; however, there is no single agreed-upon definition (e.g., cannabinoids derived from cannabis and synthetic cannabinoids are also used).[8][9][10] The rigorous scientific study of cannabis as a medicine has been hampered by production restrictions and by the fact that it is classified as an illegal drug by many governments.[11] There is some evidence suggesting cannabis can be used to reduce nausea and vomiting during chemotherapy, to improve appetite in people with HIV/AIDS, or to treat chronic pain and muscle spasms. Evidence for its use for other medical applications is insufficient for drawing conclusions about safety or efficacy.[12][13][14] There is evidence supporting the use of cannabis or its derivatives in the treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, neuropathic pain, and multiple sclerosis. Lower levels of evidence support its use for AIDS wasting syndrome, epilepsy, rheumatoid arthritis, and glaucoma.[15]
The medical use of cannabis is legal only in a limited number of territories, including Canada,[16] Belgium, Australia, the Netherlands, New Zealand,[17][18] Spain, and many U.S. states. This usage generally requires a prescription, and distribution is usually done within a framework defined by local laws.[15]
Being under the effects of cannabis is usually referred to as being "high".[19] Cannabis consumption has both psychoactive and physiological effects.[20] The "high" experience can vary widely, based (among other things) on the user's prior experience with cannabis, and the type of cannabis consumed.[21]: p647  When smoking cannabis, a euphoriant effect can occur within minutes of smoking.[22]: p104  Aside from a subjective change in perception and mood, the most common short-term physical and neurological effects include increased heart rate, increased appetite, impairment of short-term and working memory, and impairment of psychomotor coordination.[23][24]
Additional desired effects from consuming cannabis include relaxation, a general alteration of conscious perception, increased awareness of sensation, increased libido[25] and distortions in the perception of time and space. In some cases, cannabis can lead to dissociative states such as depersonalization[26][27] and derealization.[28]
Cannabis has held sacred status in several religions and has served as an entheogen – a chemical substance used in religious, shamanic, or spiritual contexts[29] – in the Indian subcontinent since the Vedic period. The earliest known reports regarding the sacred status of cannabis in the Indian subcontinent come from the Atharva Veda, estimated to have been composed sometime around 1400 BCE.[30] The Hindu god Shiva is described as a cannabis user, known as the "Lord of bhang".[31]: p19 
In modern culture, the spiritual use of cannabis has been spread by the disciples of the Rastafari movement who use cannabis as a sacrament and as an aid to meditation.[30]
Many different ways to consume cannabis involve heat to decarboxylate THCA into THC;[32][33] common modes include:
Substance | Best estimate |
Low estimate |
High estimate |
---|---|---|---|
Amphetamine- type stimulants |
34.16 | 13.42 | 55.24 |
Cannabis | 192.15 | 165.76 | 234.06 |
Cocaine | 18.20 | 13.87 | 22.85 |
Ecstasy | 20.57 | 8.99 | 32.34 |
Opiates | 19.38 | 13.80 | 26.15 |
Opioids | 34.26 | 27.01 | 44.54 |
In 2013, between 128 and 232 million people used cannabis (2.7% to 4.9% of the global population between the ages of 15 and 65).[40] Cannabis is by far the most widely used illicit substance,[41] with the highest use among adults (as of 2018[update]) in Zambia, the United States, Canada, and Nigeria.[42]
Between 1973 and 1978, eleven states decriminalized marijuana.[43] In 2001, Nevada reduced marijuana possession to a misdemeanor and since 2012, several other states have decriminalized and even legalized marijuana.[43]
In 2018, surveys indicated that almost half of the people in the United States had tried marijuana, 16% had used it in the past year, and 11% had used it in the past month.[44] In 2014, surveys said daily marijuana use amongst US college students had reached its highest level since records began in 1980, rising from 3.5% in 2007 to 5.9% in 2014 and had surpassed daily cigarette use.[45]
In the US, men are over twice as likely to use marijuana as women, and 18–29-year-olds are six times more likely to use as over-65-year-olds.[46] In 2015, a record 44% of the US population has tried marijuana in their lifetime, an increase from 38% in 2013 and 33% in 1985.[46]
Marijuana use in the United States is three times above the global average, but in line with other Western democracies. Forty-four percent of American 12th graders have tried the drug at least once, and the typical age of first-use is 16, similar to the typical age of first-use for alcohol but lower than the first-use age for other illicit drugs.[41]
A 2022 Gallup poll concluded Americans are smoking more marijuana than cigarettes for the first time.[47]
Acute negative effects may include anxiety and panic, impaired attention and memory, an increased risk of psychotic symptoms,[b] the inability to think clearly, and an increased risk of accidents.[50][51][52] Cannabis impairs a person's driving ability, and THC was the illicit drug most frequently found in the blood of drivers who have been involved in vehicle crashes. Those with THC in their system are from three to seven times more likely to be the cause of the accident than those who had not used either cannabis or alcohol, although its role is not necessarily causal because THC stays in the bloodstream for days to weeks after intoxication.[53][54][c]
Some immediate undesired side effects include a decrease in short-term memory, dry mouth, impaired motor skills, reddening of the eyes,[57] dizziness, feeling tired and vomiting.[13] Some users may experience an episode of acute psychosis, which usually abates after six hours, but in rare instances, heavy users may find the symptoms continuing for many days.[58]
Legalization has increased the rates at which children are exposed to cannabis, particularly from edibles. While the toxicity and lethality of THC in children is not known, they are at risk for encephalopathy, hypotension, respiratory depression severe enough to require ventilation, somnolence and coma.[59][60]
A systematic meta analysis showed that cannabis users double the chance of dying from heart disease. Cannabis users had a 29% higher risk of heart attack and a 20% higher risk of stroke than non-users [61] [62] [63] There is an association between cannabis use and suicide, particularly in younger users.[64]
A 16-month survey of Oregon and Alaska emergency departments found a report of the death of an adult who had been admitted for acute cannabis toxicity.[65]
A recent study in 2025 suggests that individuals diagnosed with cannabis use disorder—characterized by an inability to stop using cannabis despite its negative effects—face a nearly threefold increase in mortality rates compared to those without the condition over a five-year period.[66] The research indicates that people with this disorder are ten times more likely to die by suicide than the general population.[67] Additionally, they have a higher risk of death from trauma, drug poisoning, and lung cancer. In a separate study researchers found an increase in schizophrenia and psychosis cases in Canada linked to cannabis use disorder following the drug’s legalization.[68]
A 2015 meta-analysis found that, although a longer period of abstinence was associated with smaller magnitudes of impairment, both retrospective and prospective memory were impaired in cannabis users. The authors concluded that some, but not all, of the deficits associated with cannabis use were reversible.[70] A 2012 meta-analysis found that deficits in most domains of cognition persisted beyond the acute period of intoxication, but was not evident in studies where subjects were abstinent for more than 25 days.[71] Few high quality studies have been performed on the long-term effects of cannabis on cognition, and the results were generally inconsistent.[72] Furthermore, effect sizes of significant findings were generally small.[71] One review concluded that, although most cognitive faculties were unimpaired by cannabis use, residual deficits occurred in executive functions.[73] Impairments in executive functioning are most consistently found in older populations, which may reflect heavier cannabis exposure, or developmental effects associated with adolescent cannabis use.[74] One review found three prospective cohort studies that examined the relationship between self-reported cannabis use and intelligence quotient (IQ). The study following the largest number of heavy cannabis users reported that IQ declined between ages 7–13 and age 38. Poorer school performance and increased incidence of leaving school early were both associated with cannabis use, although a causal relationship was not established.[75] Cannabis users demonstrated increased activity in task-related brain regions, consistent with reduced processing efficiency.[76]
A reduced quality of life is associated with heavy cannabis use, although the relationship is inconsistent and weaker than for tobacco and other substances.[77] The direction of cause and effect, however, is unclear.[77]
The long-term effects of cannabis are not clear.[13] There are concerns surrounding memory and cognition problems, risk of addiction, and the risk of schizophrenia in young people.[12]
Although global abnormalities in white matter and grey matter are not consistently associated with cannabis use,[78] reduced hippocampal volume is consistently found.[79] Amygdala abnormalities are sometimes reported, although findings are inconsistent.[80][81][82]
Cannabis use is associated with increased recruitment of task-related areas, such as the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, which is thought to reflect compensatory activity due to reduced processing efficiency.[82][81][83] Cannabis use is also associated with downregulation of CB1 receptors. The magnitude of down regulation is associated with cumulative cannabis exposure, and is reversed after one month of abstinence.[75][84][85] There is limited evidence that chronic cannabis use can reduce levels of glutamate metabolites in the human brain.[86]
About 9% of those who experiment with marijuana eventually become dependent according to DSM-IV (1994) criteria.[15] A 2013 review estimates daily use is associated with a 10–20% rate of dependence.[12] The highest risk of cannabis dependence is found in those with a history of poor academic achievement, deviant behavior in childhood and adolescence, rebelliousness, poor parental relationships, or a parental history of drug and alcohol problems.[87] Of daily users, about 50% experience withdrawal upon cessation of use (i.e. are dependent), characterized by sleep problems, irritability, dysphoria, and craving.[75] Cannabis withdrawal is less severe than withdrawal from alcohol.[88]
According to DSM-5 criteria, 9% of those who are exposed to cannabis develop cannabis use disorder, compared to 20% for cocaine, 23% for alcohol and 68% for nicotine. Cannabis use disorder in the DSM-5 involves a combination of DSM-IV criteria for cannabis abuse and dependence, plus the addition of craving, without the criterion related to legal troubles.[75]
From a clinical perspective, two significant school of thought exists for psychiatric conditions associated with cannabis (or cannabinoids) use: transient, non-persistent psychotic reactions, and longer-lasting, persistent disorders that resemble schizophrenia. The former is formally known as acute cannabis-associated psychotic symptoms (CAPS).[89]
At an epidemiological level, a dose–response relationship exists between cannabis use and increased risk of psychosis and earlier onset of psychosis.[90][91][92][93][94] Although the epidemiological association is robust, evidence to prove a causal relationship is lacking.[95]
Cannabis may also increase the risk of depression, but insufficient research has been performed to draw a conclusion.[96][92] Cannabis use is associated with increased risk of anxiety disorders, although causality has not been established.[97]
A review in 2019 found that research was insufficient to determine the safety and efficacy of using cannabis to treat schizophrenia, psychosis, or other mental disorders.[98][99] Another found that cannabis during adolescence was associated with an increased risk of developing depression and suicidal behavior later in life, while finding no effect on anxiety.[100]
Heavy, long-term exposure to marijuana may have physical, mental, behavioral and social health consequences. It may be "associated with diseases of the liver (particularly with co-existing hepatitis C), lungs, heart, and vasculature".[101] A 2014 review found that while cannabis use may be less harmful than alcohol use, the recommendation to substitute it for problematic drinking was premature without further study.[102] Various surveys conducted between 2015 and 2019 found that many users of cannabis substitute it for prescription drugs (including opioids), alcohol, and tobacco; most of those who used it in place of alcohol or tobacco either reduced or stopped their intake of the latter substances.[103]
Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) is a severe condition seen in some chronic cannabis users where they have repeated bouts of uncontrollable vomiting for 24–48 hours. Four cases of death have been reported as a result of CHS.[104][105]
A limited number of studies have examined the effects of cannabis smoking on the respiratory system.[106] Chronic heavy marijuana smoking is associated with respiratory infections,[107] coughing, production of sputum, wheezing, and other symptoms of chronic bronchitis.[50] The available evidence does not support a causal relationship between cannabis use and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.[108] Short-term use of cannabis is associated with bronchodilation.[109] Other side effects of cannabis use include cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS), a condition which involves recurrent nausea, cramping abdominal pain, and vomiting.[110]
Cannabis smoke contains thousands of organic and inorganic chemical compounds. This tar is chemically similar to that found in tobacco smoke,[111] and over fifty known carcinogens have been identified in cannabis smoke,[112] including; nitrosamines, reactive aldehydes, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, including benz[a]pyrene.[113] Cannabis smoke is also inhaled more deeply than tobacco smoke.[114] As of 2015[update], there is no consensus regarding whether cannabis smoking is associated with an increased risk of cancer.[115] Light and moderate use of cannabis is not believed to increase risk of lung or upper airway cancer. Evidence for causing these cancers is mixed concerning heavy, long-term use. In general there are far lower risks of pulmonary complications for regular cannabis smokers when compared with those of tobacco.[116] A 2015 review found an association between cannabis use and the development of testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs), particularly non-seminoma TGCTs.[117] Another 2015 meta-analysis found no association between lifetime cannabis use and risk of head or neck cancer.[118] Combustion products are not present when using a vaporizer, consuming THC in pill form, or consuming cannabis foods.[119]
There is concern that cannabis may contribute to cardiovascular disease,[120] but as of 2018[update], evidence of this relationship was unclear.[121] Research in these events is complicated because cannabis is often used in conjunction with tobacco, and drugs such as alcohol and cocaine that are known to have cardiovascular risk factors.[122] Smoking cannabis has also been shown to increase the risk of myocardial infarction by 4.8 times for the 60 minutes after consumption.[123]
There is preliminary evidence that cannabis interferes with the anticoagulant properties of prescription drugs used for treating blood clots.[124] As of 2019[update], the mechanisms for the anti-inflammatory and possible pain relieving effects of cannabis were not defined, and there were no governmental regulatory approvals or clinical practices for use of cannabis as a drug.[99]
Emergency room (ER) admissions associated with cannabis use rose significantly from 2012 to 2016; adolescents from age 12–17 had the highest risk.[125] At one Colorado medical center following legalization, approximately two percent of ER admissions were classified as cannabis users. The symptoms of one quarter of these users were partially attributed to cannabis (a total of 2567 out of 449,031 patients); other drugs were sometimes involved. Of these cannabis admissions, one quarter were for acute psychiatric effects, primarily suicidal ideation, depression, and anxiety. An additional third of the cases were for gastrointestinal issues including cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome.[126]
According to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, there were 455,000 emergency room visits associated with cannabis use in 2011. These statistics include visits in which the patient was treated for a condition induced by or related to recent cannabis use. The drug use must be "implicated" in the emergency department visit, but does not need to be the direct cause of the visit. Most of the illicit drug emergency room visits involved multiple drugs.[127] In 129,000 cases, cannabis was the only implicated drug.[127][15]
A 2022 study found that smoking cannabis using a bong can greatly increase background levels of fine particulate matter, a carcinogen, in an enclosed space such as a living room. After 15 minutes, mean levels of particulate matter were more than twice the Environmental Protection Agency hazardous air quality threshold, and after 140 minutes, the concentrations were four times greater than those generated by smoking tobacco using a cigarette or hookah. This suggests secondhand cannabis smoke from bongs may present a health risk to non-smokers.[129]
THC is a weak partial agonist at CB1 receptors, while CBD is a CB1 receptor antagonist.[130][131] The CB1 receptor is found primarily in the brain as well as in some peripheral tissues, and the CB2 receptor is found primarily in peripheral tissues, but is also expressed in neuroglial cells.[132] THC appears to alter mood and cognition through its agonist actions on the CB1 receptors, which inhibit a secondary messenger system (adenylate cyclase) in a dose-dependent manner.
Via CB1 receptor activation, THC indirectly increases dopamine release and produces psychotropic effects.[133] CBD also acts as an allosteric modulator of the μ- and δ-opioid receptors.[134] THC also potentiates the effects of the glycine receptors.[135] It is unknown if or how these actions contribute to the effects of cannabis.[136]
The high lipid-solubility of cannabinoids results in their persisting in the body for long periods of time.[137] Even after a single administration of THC, detectable levels of THC can be found in the body for weeks or longer (depending on the amount administered and the sensitivity of the assessment method).[137] Investigators have suggested that this is an important factor in marijuana's effects, perhaps because cannabinoids may accumulate in the body, particularly in the lipid membranes of neurons.[138]
The main psychoactive component of cannabis is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is formed via decarboxylation of tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) from the application of heat. Raw leaf is not psychoactive because the cannabinoids are in the form of carboxylic acids.[citation needed] THC is one of the 483 known compounds in the plant,[139] including at least 65 other cannabinoids,[140] such as cannabidiol (CBD).[52]
THC and its major (inactive) metabolite, THC-COOH, can be measured in blood, urine, hair, oral fluid or sweat using chromatographic techniques as part of a drug use testing program or a forensic investigation of a traffic or other criminal offense.[58] The concentrations obtained from such analyses can often be helpful in distinguishing active use from passive exposure, elapsed time since use, and extent or duration of use. These tests cannot, however, distinguish authorized cannabis smoking for medical purposes from unauthorized recreational smoking.[141] Commercial cannabinoid immunoassays, often employed as the initial screening method when testing physiological specimens for marijuana presence, have different degrees of cross-reactivity with THC and its metabolites.[142] Urine contains predominantly THC-COOH, while hair, oral fluid and sweat contain primarily THC.[58] Blood may contain both substances, with the relative amounts dependent on the recency and extent of usage.[58]
The Duquenois–Levine test is commonly used as a screening test in the field, but it cannot definitively confirm the presence of cannabis, as a large range of substances have been shown to give false positives.[143] Researchers at John Jay College of Criminal Justice reported that dietary zinc supplements can mask the presence of THC and other drugs in urine.[144] However, a 2013 study conducted by researchers at the University of Utah School of Medicine refute the possibility of self-administered zinc producing false-negative urine drug tests.[145]
CBD is a 5-HT1A receptor agonist, which is under laboratory research to determine if it has an anxiolytic effect.[146] It is often claimed that sativa strains provide a more stimulating psychoactive high while indica strains are more sedating with a body high.[147] However, this is disputed by researchers.[148]
A 2015 review found that the use of high CBD-to-THC strains of cannabis showed significantly fewer positive symptoms, such as delusions and hallucinations, better cognitive function and both lower risk for developing psychosis, as well as a later age of onset of the illness, compared to cannabis with low CBD-to-THC ratios.[149]
According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), "the amount of THC present in a cannabis sample is generally used as a measure of cannabis potency."[150] The three main forms of cannabis products are the flower/fruit, resin (hashish), and oil (hash oil). The UNODC states that cannabis often contains 5% THC content, resin "can contain up to 20% THC content", and that "Cannabis oil may contain more than 60% THC content."[150]
Studies have found that the potency of illicit cannabis has greatly increased since the 1970s, with THC levels rising and CBD levels dropping.[151][152][153] It is unclear, however, whether the increase in THC content has caused people to consume more THC or if users adjust based on the potency of the cannabis. It is likely that the higher THC content allows people to ingest less tar. At the same time, CBD levels in seized samples have lowered, in part because of the desire to produce higher THC levels and because more illegal growers cultivate indoors using artificial lights. This helps avoid detection but reduces the CBD production of the plant.[154]
Australia's National Cannabis Prevention and Information Centre (NCPIC) states that the buds (infructescences) of the female Cannabis plant contain the highest concentration of THC, followed by the leaves. The stalks and seeds have "much lower THC levels".[155] The UN states that the leaves can contain ten times less THC than the buds, and the stalks 100 times less THC.[150]
After revisions to cannabis scheduling in the UK, the government moved cannabis back from a class C to a class B drug. A purported reason was the appearance of high potency cannabis. They believe skunk accounts for between 70% and 80% of samples seized by police[156] (despite the fact that skunk can sometimes be incorrectly mistaken for all types of herbal cannabis).[157][158] Extracts such as hashish and hash oil typically contain more THC than high potency cannabis infructescences.[159]
Hemp buds (or low-potency cannabis buds) laced with synthetic cannabinoids started to be sold as cannabis street drug in 2020.[160][161][162][163]
The short-term effects of cannabis can be altered if it has been laced with opioid drugs such as heroin or fentanyl.[164] The added drugs are meant to enhance the psychoactive properties, add to its weight, and increase profitability, despite the increased danger of overdose.[165][d]
Marijuana or marihuana (herbal cannabis)[167] consists of the dried flowers and fruits and subtending leaves and stems of the female cannabis plant.[168][169][170][171] This is the most widely consumed form,[171] containing 3% to 20% THC,[172] with reports of up to 33% THC.[173] This is the stock material from which all other preparations are derived. Although herbal cannabis and industrial hemp derive from the same species and contain the psychoactive component (THC), they are distinct strains with unique biochemical compositions and uses. Hemp has lower concentrations of THC and higher concentrations of CBD, which gives lesser psychoactive effects.[174][175]
Kief is a powder, rich in trichomes,[176] which can be sifted from the leaves, flowers and fruits of cannabis plants and either consumed in powder form or compressed to produce cakes of hashish.[177] The word "kif" derives from colloquial Arabic كي٠kēf/kīf, meaning pleasure.[178]
Hashish (also spelled hasheesh, hashisha, or simply hash) is a concentrated resin cake or ball produced from pressed kief, the detached trichomes and fine material that falls off cannabis fruits, flowers and leaves,[179] or from scraping the resin from the surface of the plants and rolling it into balls. It varies in color from black to golden brown depending upon purity and variety of cultivar it was obtained from.[180] It can be consumed orally or smoked, and is also vaporized, or 'vaped'.[181] The term "rosin hash" refers to a high quality solventless product obtained through heat and pressure.[182]
Cannabinoids can be extracted from cannabis plant matter using high-proof spirits (often grain alcohol) to create a tincture, often referred to as "green dragon".[31]: p17  Nabiximols is a branded product name from a tincture manufacturing pharmaceutical company.[183]
Hash oil is a resinous matrix of cannabinoids obtained from the cannabis plant by solvent extraction,[184] formed into a hardened or viscous mass.[185] Hash oil can be the most potent of the main cannabis products because of its high level of psychoactive compound per its volume, which can vary depending on the plant's mix of essential oils and psychoactive compounds.[186] Butane and supercritical carbon dioxide hash oil have become popular in recent years.[187]
There are many varieties of cannabis infusions owing to the variety of non-volatile solvents used.[188] The plant material is mixed with the solvent and then pressed and filtered to express the oils of the plant into the solvent. Examples of solvents used in this process are cocoa butter, dairy butter, cooking oil, glycerine, and skin moisturizers. Depending on the solvent, these may be used in cannabis foods or applied topically.[189]
Marihuana prensada ('pressed marijuana') is a cannabis-derived product widespread among the lower classes of South America,[190] especially from the 90s. Locally it is known as "paraguayo" or "paragua", since its main producer is Paraguay.[191] Marijuana is dried and mixed with binding agents that make it toxic and highly harmful to health.[192] It is cut into the shape of bricks (ladrillos) and sold for a low price in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, Venezuela, and even the United States.[193]
Cannabis is indigenous to Central or South Asia[194] and its uses for fabric and rope dates back to the Neolithic age in China and Japan.[195][196] It is unclear when cannabis first became known for its psychoactive properties. The oldest archeological evidence for the burning of cannabis was found in Romanian kurgans dated 3,500 BC, and scholars suggest that the drug was first used in ritual ceremonies by Proto-Indo-European tribes living in the Pontic-Caspian steppe during the Chalcolithic period, a custom they eventually spread throughout Western Eurasia during the Indo-European migrations.[197][198] Some research suggests that the ancient Indo-Iranian drug soma, mentioned in the Vedas, sometimes contained cannabis. This is based on the discovery of a basin containing cannabis in a shrine of the second millennium BC in Turkmenistan.[199]
Cannabis was known to the ancient Assyrians, who discovered its psychoactive properties through the Iranians.[200] Using it in some religious ceremonies, they called it qunubu (meaning "way to produce smoke"), a probable origin of the modern word cannabis.[201] The Iranians also introduced cannabis to the Scythians, Thracians and Dacians, whose shamans (the kapnobatai – "those who walk on smoke/clouds") burned cannabis infructescences to induce trance.[202] The plant was used in China before 2800 BC, and found therapeutic use in India by 1000 BC, where it was used in food and drink, including bhang.[203][204]
Cannabis has an ancient history of ritual use and has been used by religions around the world. It has been used as a drug for both recreational and entheogenic purposes and in various traditional medicines for centuries.[205][206][167] The earliest evidence of cannabis smoking has been found in the 2,500-year-old tombs of Jirzankal Cemetery in the Pamir Mountains in Western China, where cannabis residue were found in burners with charred pebbles possibly used during funeral rituals.[207][208] Hemp seeds discovered by archaeologists at Pazyryk suggest early ceremonial practices like eating by the Scythians occurred during the 5th to 2nd century BC, confirming previous historical reports by Herodotus.[209] It was used by Muslims in various Sufi orders as early as the Mamluk period, for example by the Qalandars.[210] Smoking pipes uncovered in Ethiopia and carbon-dated to around c. AD 1320 were found to have traces of cannabis.[211]
Cannabis was introduced to the New World by the Spaniards in 1530–1545.[212][213][214] Following an 1836–1840 travel in North Africa and the Middle East, French physician Jacques-Joseph Moreau wrote on the psychological effects of cannabis use; he founded the Paris' Club des Hashischins in 1844.[215] In 1842, Irish physician William Brooke O'Shaughnessy, who had studied the drug while working as a medical officer in Bengal with the East India Company, brought a quantity of cannabis with him on his return to Britain, provoking renewed interest in the West.[216] Examples of classic literature of the period featuring cannabis include Les paradis artificiels (1860) by Charles Baudelaire and The Hasheesh Eater (1857) by Fitz Hugh Ludlow.
Cannabis was criminalized in some countries beginning in the 14th century and was illegal in most countries by the middle of the 20th century. The colonial government of Mauritius banned cannabis in 1840 over concerns on its effect on Indian indentured workers;[217] the same occurred in Singapore in 1870.[218] In the United States, the first restrictions on sale of cannabis came in 1906 (in the District of Columbia).[219] Canada criminalized cannabis in The Opium and Narcotic Drug Act, 1923,[220] before any reports of the use of the drug in Canada, but eventually legalized its consumption for recreational and medicinal purposes in 2018.[16]
In 1925, a compromise was made at an international conference in The Hague about the International Opium Convention that banned exportation of "Indian hemp" to countries that had prohibited its use, and requiring importing countries to issue certificates approving the importation and stating that the shipment was required "exclusively for medical or scientific purposes". It also required parties to "exercise an effective control of such a nature as to prevent the illicit international traffic in Indian hemp and especially in the resin".[221][222] In the United States in 1937, the Marihuana Tax Act was passed,[223] and prohibited the production of hemp in addition to cannabis.
In 1972, the Dutch government divided drugs into more- and less-dangerous categories, with cannabis being in the lesser category. Accordingly, possession of 30 grams (1.1 oz) or less was made a misdemeanor.[224] Cannabis has been available for recreational use in coffee shops since 1976.[225] Cannabis products are only sold openly in certain local "coffeeshops" and possession of up to 5 grams (0.18 oz) for personal use is decriminalized, however: the police may still confiscate it, which often happens in car checks near the border. Other types of sales and transportation are not permitted, although the general approach toward cannabis was lenient even before official decriminalization.[226][227][228]
In Uruguay, President Jose Mujica signed legislation to legalize recreational cannabis in December 2013, making Uruguay the first country in the modern era to legalize cannabis. In August 2014, Uruguay legalized growing up to six plants at home, as well as the formation of growing clubs (Cannabis social club), and a state-controlled marijuana dispensary regime.
As of 17 October 2018[update], when recreational use of cannabis was legalized in Canada, dietary supplements for human use and veterinary health products containing not more than 10 parts per million of THC extract were approved for marketing; Nabiximols (as Sativex) is used as a prescription drug in Canada.[16]
The United Nations' World Drug Report stated that cannabis "was the world's most widely produced, trafficked, and consumed drug in the world in 2010", and estimated between 128 million and 238 million users globally in 2015.[229][230]
Cannabis has been one of the most used psychoactive drugs in the world since the late 20th century, following only tobacco and alcohol in popularity.[232] According to Vera Rubin, the use of cannabis has been encompassed by two major cultural complexes over time: a continuous, traditional folk stream, and a more circumscribed, contemporary configuration.[233] The former involves both sacred and secular use, and is usually based on small-scale cultivation: the use of the plant for cordage, clothing, medicine, food, and a "general use as an euphoriant and symbol of fellowship."[233][234] The second stream of expansion of cannabis use encompasses "the use of hemp for commercial manufacturers utilizing large-scale cultivation primarily as a fiber for mercantile purposes"; but it is also linked to the search for psychedelic experiences (which can be traced back to the formation of the Parisian Club des Hashischins).[234]
See also countries that have legalized medical use of cannabis.
Since the beginning of the 20th century, most countries have enacted laws against the cultivation, possession or transfer of cannabis.[235] These laws have had an adverse effect on cannabis cultivation for non-recreational purposes, but there are many regions where handling of cannabis is legal or licensed. Many jurisdictions have lessened the penalties for possession of small quantities of cannabis so that it is punished by confiscation and sometimes a fine, rather than imprisonment, focusing more on those who traffic the drug on the black market.
In some areas where cannabis use had been historically tolerated, new restrictions were instituted, such as the closing of cannabis coffee shops near the borders of the Netherlands,[236] and closing of coffee shops near secondary schools in the Netherlands.[237] In Copenhagen, Denmark in 2014, mayor Frank Jensen discussed possibilities for the city to legalize cannabis production and commerce.[238]
Some jurisdictions use free voluntary or mandatory treatment programs for frequent known users. Simple possession can carry long prison terms in some countries, particularly in East Asia, where the sale of cannabis may lead to a sentence of life in prison or even execution. Political parties, non-profit organizations, and causes based on the legalization of medical cannabis or legalizing the plant entirely (with some restrictions) have emerged in such countries as China and Thailand.[239][240]
In December 2012, the U.S. state of Washington became the first state to officially legalize cannabis in a state law (Washington Initiative 502) (but still illegal by federal law),[241] with the state of Colorado following close behind (Colorado Amendment 64).[242] On 1 January 2013, the first cannabis "club" for private marijuana smoking (no buying or selling, however) was allowed for the first time in Colorado.[243] The California Supreme Court decided in May 2013 that local governments can ban medical cannabis dispensaries despite a state law in California that permits the use of cannabis for medical purposes. At least 180 cities across California have enacted bans in recent years.[244]
On 30 April 2024, the United States Department of Justice announced it would move to reclassify cannabis from a Schedule I to a Schedule III controlled substance.[245][246]
In December 2013, Uruguay became the first country to legalize growing, sale and use of cannabis.[247] After a long delay in implementing the retail component of the law, in 2017 sixteen pharmacies were authorized to sell cannabis commercially.[248] On 19 June 2018, the Canadian Senate passed a bill and the Prime Minister announced the effective legalization date as 17 October 2018.[16][249] Canada is the second country to legalize the drug.[250]
In November 2015, Uttarakhand became the first state of India to legalize the cultivation of hemp for industrial purposes.[251] Usage within the Hindu and Buddhist cultures of the Indian subcontinent is common, with many street vendors in India openly selling products infused with cannabis, and traditional medical practitioners in Sri Lanka selling products infused with cannabis for recreational purposes and well as for religious celebrations.[252] Indian laws criminalizing cannabis date back to the colonial period. India and Sri Lanka have allowed cannabis to be taken in the context of traditional culture for recreational/celebratory purposes and also for medicinal purposes.[252]
On 17 October 2015, Australian health minister Sussan Ley presented a new law that will allow the cultivation of cannabis for scientific research and medical trials on patients.[253]
On 17 October 2018, Canada legalized cannabis for recreational adult use[254] making it the second country in the world to do so after Uruguay and the first G7 nation.[255] This legalization comes with regulation similar to that of alcohol in Canada, age restrictions, limiting home production, distribution, consumption areas and sale times.[256] Laws around use vary from province to province including age limits, retail structure, and growing at home.[254] The Canadian Licensed Producer system aims to become the Gold Standard in the world for safe and secure cannabis production,[257] including provisions for a robust craft cannabis industry where many expect opportunities for experimenting with different strains.[258]
As the drug has increasingly been seen as a health issue instead of criminal behavior, cannabis has also been legalized or decriminalized in: Czech Republic,[259] Colombia,[260][261] Ecuador,[262][263][264] Portugal,[265] South Africa[266] and Canada.[16] Medical marijuana was legalized in Mexico in mid-2017 and legalized for recreational use in June 2021.[267][268][269]
Germany legalized cannabis for recreational use in April 2024.[270]
As of 2022, Uruguay and Canada are the only countries that have fully legalized the cultivation, consumption and bartering of recreational cannabis nationwide.[271][272] In the United States, 24 states, 3 territories, and the District of Columbia have legalized the recreational use of cannabis – though the drug remains illegal at the federal level.[273] Laws vary from state to state when it comes to the commercial sale. Court rulings in Georgia and South Africa have led to the legalization of cannabis consumption, but not legal sales. A policy of limited enforcement has also been adopted in many countries, in particular Spain and the Netherlands where the sale of cannabis is tolerated at licensed establishments.[274][275] Contrary to popular belief, cannabis is not legal in the Netherlands,[276] but it has been decriminalized since the 1970s. In 2021, Malta was the first European Union member to legalize the use of cannabis for recreational purposes.[277] In Estonia, it is only legal to sell cannabis products with a THC content of less than 0.2%, although products may contain more cannabidiol.[278] Lebanon has recently become the first Arab country to legalize the plantation of cannabis for medical use.[279]
Penalties for illegal recreational use ranges from confiscation or small fines to jail time and even death.[280] In some countries citizens can be punished if they have used the drug in another country, including Singapore and South Korea.[281][282]
Sinsemilla (Spanish for "without seed") is the dried, seedless (i.e. parthenocarpic) infructescences of female cannabis plants. Because THC production drops off once pollination occurs, the male plants (which produce little THC themselves) are eliminated before they shed pollen to prevent pollination, thus inducing the development of parthenocarpic fruits gathered in dense infructescences. Advanced cultivation techniques such as hydroponics, cloning, high-intensity artificial lighting, and the sea of green method are frequently employed as a response (in part) to prohibition enforcement efforts that make outdoor cultivation more risky.
"Skunk" refers to several named strains of potent cannabis, grown through selective breeding and sometimes hydroponics. It is a cross-breed of Cannabis sativa and C. indica (although other strains of this mix exist in abundance). Skunk cannabis potency ranges usually from 6% to 15% and rarely as high as 20%. The average THC level in coffee shops in the Netherlands is about 18–19%.[283]
The average levels of THC in cannabis sold in the United States rose dramatically between the 1970s and 2000.[284] This is disputed for various reasons, and there is little consensus as to whether this is a fact or an artifact of poor testing methodologies.[284] According to Daniel Forbes writing for slate.com, the relative strength of modern strains are likely skewed because undue weight is given to much more expensive and potent, but less prevalent, samples.[285] Some suggest that results are skewed by older testing methods that included low-THC-content plant material such as leaves in the samples, which are excluded in contemporary tests. Others believe that modern strains actually are significantly more potent than older ones.[284]
The main producing countries of cannabis are Afghanistan,[286] Canada,[287] China, Colombia,[288] India,[286] Jamaica,[286] Lebanon,[289] Mexico,[290] Morocco,[286] the Netherlands, Pakistan, Paraguay,[290] Spain,[286] Thailand, Turkey, the United Kingdom,[291] and the United States.[286]
The price or street value of cannabis varies widely depending on geographic area and potency.[292] Prices and overall markets have also varied considerably over time.
After some U.S. states legalized cannabis, street prices began to drop. In Colorado, the price of smokable buds (infructescences) dropped 40 percent between 2014 and 2019, from $200 per ounce to $120 per ounce ($7 per gram to $4.19 per gram).[297]
The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction reports that typical retail prices in Europe for cannabis varied from €2 to €20 per gram in 2008, with a majority of European countries reporting prices in the range €4–10.[298]
The gateway hypothesis states that cannabis use increases the probability of trying "harder" drugs. The hypothesis has been hotly debated as it is regarded by some as the primary rationale for the United States prohibition on cannabis use.[299][300] A Pew Research Center poll found that political opposition to marijuana use was significantly associated with concerns about the health effects and whether legalization would increase cannabis use by children.[301]
Some studies state that while there is no proof for the gateway hypothesis,[302] young cannabis users should still be considered as a risk group for intervention programs.[303] Other findings indicate that hard drug users are likely to be poly-drug users, and that interventions must address the use of multiple drugs instead of a single hard drug.[304] Almost two-thirds of the poly drug users in the 2009–2010 Scottish Crime and Justice Survey used cannabis.[305]
The gateway effect may appear due to social factors involved in using any illegal drug. Because of the illegal status of cannabis, its consumers are likely to find themselves in situations allowing them to acquaint with individuals using or selling other illegal drugs.[306][307] Studies have shown that alcohol and tobacco may additionally be regarded as gateway drugs;[308] however, a more parsimonious explanation could be that cannabis is simply more readily available (and at an earlier age) than illegal hard drugs.[citation needed] In turn, alcohol and tobacco are typically easier to obtain at an earlier age than is cannabis (though the reverse may be true in some areas), thus leading to the "gateway sequence" in those individuals, since they are most likely to experiment with any drug offered.[299]
A related alternative to the gateway hypothesis is the common liability to addiction (CLA) theory. It states that some individuals are, for various reasons, willing to try multiple recreational substances. The "gateway" drugs are merely those that are (usually) available at an earlier age than the harder drugs. Researchers have noted in an extensive review that it is dangerous to present the sequence of events described in gateway "theory" in causative terms as this hinders both research and intervention.[309]
In 2020, the National Institute on Drug Abuse released a study backing allegations that marijuana is a gateway to harder drugs, though not for the majority of marijuana users.[310] The National Institute on Drug Abuse determined that marijuana use is "likely to precede use of other licit and illicit substances" and that "adults who reported marijuana use during the first wave of the survey were more likely than adults who did not use marijuana to develop an alcohol use disorder within 3 years; people who used marijuana and already had an alcohol use disorder at the outset were at greater risk of their alcohol use disorder worsening. Marijuana use is also linked to other substance use disorders including nicotine addiction."[310] It also reported that "These findings are consistent with the idea of marijuana as a "gateway drug". However, the majority of people who use marijuana do not go on to use other, "harder" substances. Also, cross-sensitization is not unique to marijuana. Alcohol and nicotine also prime the brain for a heightened response to other drugs and are, like marijuana, also typically used before a person progresses to other, more harmful substances."[310]
Research on cannabis is challenging since the plant is illegal in most countries.[311][312][313][314][315] Research-grade samples of the drug are difficult to obtain for research purposes, unless granted under authority of national regulatory agencies, such as the US Food and Drug Administration.[316]
There are also other difficulties in researching the effects of cannabis. Many people who smoke cannabis also smoke tobacco.[317] This causes confounding factors, where questions arise as to whether the tobacco, the cannabis, or both that have caused a cancer. Another difficulty researchers have is in recruiting people who smoke cannabis into studies. Because cannabis is an illegal drug in many countries, people may be reluctant to take part in research, and if they do agree to take part, they may not say how much cannabis they actually smoke.[318]
Footnotes
Citations
Cannabis is called kaneh bosem in Hebrew, which is now recognized as the Scythian word that Herodotus wrote as kánnabis (or cannabis).
Cannabis is a Scythian word (Benet 1975).
The term medical marijuana refers to using the whole unprocessed marijuana plant or its basic extracts to treat a disease or symptom.
There is clear evidence that recreational cannabis can produce a transient toxic psychosis in larger doses or in susceptible individuals, which is said to characteristically resolve within a week or so of absence (Johns 2001). Transient psychotic episodes as a component of acute intoxication are well-documented (Hall et al 1994)
Therefore, results indicate evidence for small neurocognitive effects that persist after the period of acute intoxication...As hypothesized, the meta-analysis conducted on studies eval- uating users after at least 25 days of abstention found no residual effects on cognitive performance...These results fail to support the idea that heavy cannabis use may result in long-term, persistent effects on neuropsychological functioning.
Cannabis appears to continue to exert impairing effects in executive functions even after 3 weeks of abstinence and beyond. While basic attentional and working memory abilities are largely restored, the most enduring and detectable deficits are seen in decision-making, concept formation and planning.
Given that [the human] central nervous system is an intricately balanced, complex network of billions of neurons and supporting cells, some might imagine that extrinsic substances could cause irreversible brain damage. Our review paints a less gloomy picture of the substances reviewed, however. Following prolonged abstinence, abusers of alcohol (Pfefferbaum et al., 2014) or opiates (Wang et al., 2011) have white matter microstructure that is not significantly different from nonusers. There was also no evidence that the white matter microstructural changes observed in longitudinal studies of cannabis, nicotine, or cocaine were completely irreparable. It is therefore possible that, at least to some degree, abstinence can reverse effects of substance abuse on white matter. The ability of white matter to "bounce back" very likely depends on the level and duration of abuse, as well as the substance being abused.
The most consistently reported brain alteration was reduced hippocampal volume which was shown to persist even after several months of abstinence in one study and also to be related to the amount of cannabis use Other frequently reported morphological brain alterations related to chronic cannabis use were reported in the amygdala the cerebellum and the frontal cortex...These findings may be interpreted as reflecting neuroadaptation, perhaps indicating the recruitment of additional regions as a compensatory mechanism to maintain normal cognitive performance in response to chronic cannabis exposure, particularly within the prefrontal cortex area.
1) The studies reviewed so far demonstrated that chronic cannabis use has been associated with a volume reduction of the hippocampus...3) The overall conclusion arising from these studies is that recent cannabis users may experience subtle neurophysiological deficits while performing on working memory tasks, and that they compensate for these deficits by "working harder" by using additional brain regions to meet the demands of the task.
This may reflect the multitude of cognitive tasks employed by the various studies included in these meta-analyses, all of which involved performing a task thereby requiring the participant to reorient their attention and attempt to solve the problem at hand and suggest that greater engagement of this region indicates less efficient cognitive performance in cannabis users in general, irrespective of their age.
Epidemiological data indicate a strong relationship between cannabis use and psychosis and schizophrenia beyond transient intoxication with an increased risk of any psychotic outcome in individuals who had ever used cannabis
The contentious issue of whether cannabis use can cause serious psychotic disorders that would not otherwise have occurred cannot be answered based on the existing data
cite book
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)cite book
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)Cannabis Smoking in 13th-14th Century Ethiopia: Chemical Evidence
The District of Columbia law, insofar as it relates to Cannabis, is a part of an act passed by Congress in 1906 entitled "An act to regulate the practice of pharmacy and the sale of poisons in the District of Columbia, and for other purposes", approved May 17, 1906, and originally published as 34 Statutes, 175, which is now to be found in the District Code, section 191 and following. It limits the sale of Cannabis, its derivatives and its preparations to pharmacists and persons who are authorized assistants to pharmacists.
citation
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) "Podle Äl. 36 Jednotné úmluvy o omamných látkách ze dne 31. bÅ™ezna 1961 (Ä. 47/1965 Sb.) se signatáÅ™i zavazují k trestnímu postihu tam uvedených forem nakládání s drogami vÄetnÄ› jejich držby. Návrh upouští od dosavadní beztrestnosti držby omamných a psychotropních látek a jedů pro svoji potÅ™ebu. Dosavadní beztrestnost totiž eliminuje v Å™adÄ› pÅ™ípadů možnost postihu dealerů a distributorů drog."
This is a great dispensary. I highly recommend. Staff is nice and knowledgeable, they don't make you feel intimidated to ask questions. Prices are fair. The shop also has great weekly specials and the product selection is fantastic. I suggest you take a look at their online menu to get familiar with their selection before you go in so you don't end up panic buying only because they have so much to choose from..you can also put your order in online to be ready for pick up. If you have to make last minute changes to your order when you get there that's okay too. This has got to be my favorite dispensary in LA.
Probably the best shop in Los Angeles. Shelves & freezers are full of exotic & boutique brands, it’s a connoisseur’s heaven. Staff and the manager Jack are EXTREMELY knowledgeable and happy to help. Would definitely recommend, 5 outta 5 stars
Had the best time at goat global. The beat variety and strains. The security very friendly. Jack was absolutely amazing and talked us through the different strains, with his recommendations on what to smoke to make us feel how we asked. Great attention to detail
This is the best dispo in Southern California with the best manager JACK. Exceptional customer service and compassion. This is a place for life. Forever grateful for such a place like this. Thank you
Goat Global allows online reservations for pickup to save you time. Select your items, checkout, and we’ll have them ready. Reserve now at goatglobal.com!
Yes, Goat Global provides speedy same-day delivery across Los Angeles. Place your order early for the fastest service. Order now at goatglobal.com!
Goat Global offers a wide range of products, including flower, edibles, vapes, and topicals. Each product is lab-tested for quality and potency. Explore our full selection in-store or online today!
Goat Global carries a variety of high-potency concentrates, including wax, shatter, and live resin. These are ideal for experienced users. Explore our concentrate collection in-store now!