Indian hemp, hashish, ganja, pot, dope and grass, is made from the Indian hemp plant Cannabis sativa
• Cannabis is often abused and, in some countries it is used almost as much as alcohol or tobacco and considered as aphrodisiac agent. It makes people feel relaxed and makes colors and sounds seem brighter and louder. The dried plant is made into cigarettes or put in a pipe and smoked. Sometimes it is taken with food also however some people inject it too.
• Cannabis causes harm affects to the brain however it does not cause much harm to adults, unless it is injected. The signs and symptoms start within 10 minutes of smoking the drug and last for about 2-3 hours.
• When the drug is eaten, the effects start within 30-60 minutes and last for 2-5 hours. The main effects are a feeling of well-being, happiness and sleepiness, but high doses may cause fear, panic and confusion, the person cannot balance when standing up, hallucinations, drowsiness, slurred speech, coughing if the drug is breathed in, as when smoking cigarettes.
• If the drug is injected it may cause more serious problems severe headache, dizziness, irregular breathing, fever, low blood pressure, unconsciousness.
• If the patient is unconscious or drowsy, lay him or her on one side in the recovery position. Check breathing every 10 minutes. A patient who is anxious or confused should be kept in a quiet, warm room. If the cannabis was swallowed: there is no need to make the patient vomit. If the patient is fully awake, breathing normally, and not vomiting, gives activated charcoal and water to drink.
• If the patient is hallucinating or violent, give chlorpromazine, 50-100 mg an adult dose, intramuscularly.
• If cannabis has been injected, monitor breathing, pulse, blood pressure, temperature. Supportive care, including oxygen and mechanical ventilation, should be given as needed: Low blood pressure should be treated by keeping the patient lying with the feet higher than the head; intravenous fluids can be given.
(Contributed by Dr Sudhir Gupta)
• Cannabis is often abused and, in some countries it is used almost as much as alcohol or tobacco and considered as aphrodisiac agent. It makes people feel relaxed and makes colors and sounds seem brighter and louder. The dried plant is made into cigarettes or put in a pipe and smoked. Sometimes it is taken with food also however some people inject it too.
• Cannabis causes harm affects to the brain however it does not cause much harm to adults, unless it is injected. The signs and symptoms start within 10 minutes of smoking the drug and last for about 2-3 hours.
• When the drug is eaten, the effects start within 30-60 minutes and last for 2-5 hours. The main effects are a feeling of well-being, happiness and sleepiness, but high doses may cause fear, panic and confusion, the person cannot balance when standing up, hallucinations, drowsiness, slurred speech, coughing if the drug is breathed in, as when smoking cigarettes.
• If the drug is injected it may cause more serious problems severe headache, dizziness, irregular breathing, fever, low blood pressure, unconsciousness.
• If the patient is unconscious or drowsy, lay him or her on one side in the recovery position. Check breathing every 10 minutes. A patient who is anxious or confused should be kept in a quiet, warm room. If the cannabis was swallowed: there is no need to make the patient vomit. If the patient is fully awake, breathing normally, and not vomiting, gives activated charcoal and water to drink.
• If the patient is hallucinating or violent, give chlorpromazine, 50-100 mg an adult dose, intramuscularly.
• If cannabis has been injected, monitor breathing, pulse, blood pressure, temperature. Supportive care, including oxygen and mechanical ventilation, should be given as needed: Low blood pressure should be treated by keeping the patient lying with the feet higher than the head; intravenous fluids can be given.
(Contributed by Dr Sudhir Gupta)
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