Marijuana use in adults
Tuesday, September 23rd, 2008“Marijuana” refers to the dried material (leaves, stems, seeds) of the hemp plant, Cannabis sativa; this is the form used most commonly in the United States. “Hashish” refers to the dried resin made from hemp flowers. “Hash oil” is a liquid extracted from the plant material, and this form is the most potent. The active ingredient in all forms of marijuana is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
The most common route of administration for marijuana is smoking, either as a rolled cigarette (”joint” or “blunt”) or through a pipe (”bong”). It can be taken orally, which results in a slower onset but longer duration of action. It is rarely used intravenously due to the risk of complications from injection of undissolved plant material.
THC and other cannabinoids are rapidly absorbed from the lungs and bind to endogenous cannabinoid receptors in the central nervous system. This binding is responsible for the psychoactive properties that users seek. Two endogenous cannabinoid receptors have been identified in the central nervous system.
