Dagga (cannabis)

Original article by Erowid.org

Dagga (cannabis) is a leafy plant which grows wild in many of the tropic and temperate areas of the world. It is cultivated both indoors and out for the production of its flowering tops.

The most commonly used form of cannabis are the leaves and flowering tops (buds) which may be either smoked or eaten. It also comes in a more concentrated resinous form called hashish, and as a sticky black liquid called hash oil.

There are three distinct species of cannabis: Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis, though there is some argument as to whether these should be considered varieties rather than species. Most recreationally used cannabis is the result of interbreeding between these three types. The term "hemp" is generally used to describe low-thc varieties of cannabis which are grown for industrial uses.

Dose
The strength of cannabis varies greatly from one variety to another. Some, known as "one-hit-shit", requires only a single lung-full to reach full effects while other varieties require many hits to achieve the same effects. Additionally, the amount that one individual likes to smoke can be many times what another prefers. Generally, 3.5g of a mid-quality bud could get around 20-30 people reasonably high.

Chemistry
The active ingredients in cannabis are called cannabinoids. There are many cannabinoids synthesised by the plant including tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabinol, cannabidiol, cannabinolidic acid, cannabigerol, and cannabichromene. Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol is thought to be responsible for most of the psychoactive effects of cannabis and is the active ingredient in synthetic thc pills such as marinol.

Production
Cannabis plants do grow wild in many parts of the world, but the quality of wild specimens ("ditch-weed") is generally quite low. Most cannabis is cultivated intentionally and can be grown either indoors or out.

History
The cannabis plant has been used both medicinally and recreationally for thousands of years. It wasn't until the early 19th century that the use of cannabis spread from China and the Middle East to the population of Europe and then to America in the middle of the century.

Terminology / slang
The Substance: Dagga; Cannabis; Marijuana; Marihuana; Pot; Dope; Weed; Grass; Bud; Ganja; Mary Jane; Doobie; Hashish; Hash; Bhang.
The Experience: Stoned; High.

- Article used with the permission of Erowid.org. Last modified May 2009.

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