Mental health and cannabis
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What is cannabis?
Cannabis is an illegal drug that is made from a group of plants; Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis. Cannabis plants have psychoactive properties, and people use it for different reasons, such as to relieve mental or physical problems. However, although benefits may be felt initially, in the longer term it can make problems worse, or create new ones. Cannabis use is risky as it affects different people in different ways and no one can tell what their reaction may be.
Cannabis is the most widely used illegal drug in the UK, and young people are more likely to use it than older people. Unfortunately, consuming cannabis at a young age is thought by scientists to adversely affect the brain, and lead to things such as issues with memory and learning, and poor mental health.
How does it work?
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the main psychoactive chemical in cannabis. The more THC in cannabis, the stronger the effects will be. THC is responsible for t...
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