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Cannabis - a blow by blow account of the effects

In a recent campus survey, one in five Trinity students said that they had used drugs in the past month. Most of the people who used drugs took cannabis, commonly known as hash, weed, blow or grass. While the short-term effects of the ‘high’ were well known; becoming talkative, getting the giggles, ‘the munchies’, euphoria, relaxation and a general slow down, few students surveyed knew about the long-term consequences. So, here are a few facts to make sure you know your risks:

Right away

Some people do experience some immediate negative effects, especially if they haven’t smoked before. This would include unpleasant side effects like feeling fearful, confused, panicked or anxious.

Later on

In the longer-term there is evidence of increased cancer risk, reduced fertility, apathy, loss of ambition and addiction. The effects of cannabis on mental health are also currently being debated. The general consensus among psychiatrists is that using cannabis doesn’t cause mental illness but that it may trigger schizophrenia in at risk individuals, or make symptoms worse in sufferers. For this reason, people who do have existing mental illnesses are particularly advised to avoid smoking cannabis.