Commonly Abused Drugs

Marijuana (Cannabis)

Marijuana is made from the hemp plant, Cannabis sativa. The main psychoactive (mind-altering) chemical in marijuana is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. 

Street Names Commercial Names Common Forms Common Ways Taken DEA Schedule
Blunt, Bud, Dope, Ganja, Grass, Green, Herb, Joint, Mary Jane, Pot, Reefer, Sinsemilla, Skunk, Smoke, Trees, Weed; Hashish: Boom, Gangster, Hash, Hemp Various brand names in states where the sale of marijuana is legal Greenish-gray mixture of dried, shredded leaves, stems, seeds, and/or flowers; resin (hashish) or sticky, black liquid (hash oil) Smoked, eaten (mixed in food or brewed as tea) I

Possible Health Effects
Short-term Enhanced sensory perception and euphoria followed by drowsiness/relaxation; slowed reaction time; problems with balance and coordination; increased heart rate and appetite; problems with learning and memory; hallucinations; anxiety; panic attacks; psychosis.
Long-term Mental health problems; chronic cough; frequent respiratory infections.
Other Health-related Issues Youth: possible loss of IQ points when repeated use begins in adolescence.

Pregnancy: babies born with problems with attention, memory, and problem solving.
In Combination with Alcohol Increased heart rate, blood pressure; further slowing of mental processing and reaction time.
Withdrawal Symptoms Irritability, trouble sleeping, decreased appetite, anxiety.
Treatment options
Medications There are no FDA-approved medications to treat marijuana addiction.
Behavioral Therapies
  • Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
  • Contingency management, or motivational incentives
  • Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET)
  • Behavioral treatments geared to adolescents