What is marijuana?
Marijuana is the most common illegal drug used in Australia. It is made from the dried flowers and leaves of a plant called Cannabis Sativa.

Other names for marijuana are ‘grass’, ‘cannabis’, ‘mull’, ‘pot’, ‘dope’ and ‘yarndi’. Marijuana can look like dried herbs or tea. Sometimes it contains seeds or twigs. It can be grey, green or brown in colour.

Marijuana is usually smoked in hand-rolled cigarettes called ‘joints’ or in water pipes called ‘bongs’. Sometimes it is mixed with food such as cakes and cookies and eaten.

What is THC?
THC is the chemical in marijuana which makes you feel ‘high’. This means you experience a change in mood and may see or feel things in a different way.

Some parts of the plant contain a higher level of THC. For example, the flowers or buds have more THC than the stems or leaves.

How does THC affect you?
When marijuana is smoked, THC goes quickly into the blood through the lungs. It then goes to the brain and this is when the ‘high’ is felt. This can happen within a few minutes and can last up to five hours.

When marijuana is eaten, THC is absorbed more slowly into the blood as it has to pass through the stomach and intestine. It can take up to one hour to experience the ‘high’ effects and these can last up to 12 hours.

THC is absorbed quickly into body fat. It is then released very slowly back into the blood. It can take up to one month for a single dose of THC to fully leave the body.

Effects
The effects of marijuana will depend on:
• how much you take
• how strong the marijuana is
• how the marijuana is taken (joint, bong, food)
• your size, weight, health
• your mood
• your experience with marijuana
• whether marijuana is taken with other drugs
• whether you are alone or with other people, at home or at a party.