Educational Resources on Cannabis

Cannabis

Cannabis is a plant-based drug. It can be smoked, eaten or vaped.

Where can I find help?

Below are some telephone numbers, email addresses and websites of agencies or charities that can offer support or advice if you, or someone you know needs it. 

Mental health and cannabis

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: increased schizophrenia risk in young people linked to both low and high use

An article from The Conversation.

By Ian Hamilton, Associate Professor of Addiction, University of York & Mark Monaghan, Reader in Criminology and Social Policy, University of Birmingham

Cannabis-impaired driving: here’s what we know about the risks of weed behind the wheel

An article from The Conversation.

By Dina Gaid, Post-doctoral fellow, School of Pharmacy, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Jennifer Donnan, Assistant Professor, School of Pharmacy, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Lisa Bishop, Associate professor, School of Pharmacy, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Maisam Najafizada, Assistant Professor of Population Health Policy, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Maria Josey, PharmD Student, School of Pharmacy, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Michael Blackwood, MSc Student, School of Pharmacy, Memorial University of Newfoundland

How does cannabis use affect sleep duration?

Recent cannabis use has been shown to affect extremes of nightly sleep duration, being either less than six hours or more than nine hours, with more intense patterns among heavier users.

How does smoking marijuana affect academic performance? Two researchers explain how it can alter mor

An article from The Conversation.

By Jason R. Kilmer, Associate Professor of Psychiatry & Behavioural Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Washington & Christine M. Lee, Research Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Washington

Cannabis users at ‘much higher’ risk of developing poor mental health

Those with a recorded history of cannabis use in general practice records are at a much higher risk of developing mental ill health problems such as anxiety or depression as well as severe mental illnesses, new research shows.

Are weed hangovers real? Expert reveals all

By Dr Peter McCann

Legalising cannabis will create jobs – and save lives

As the party of entrepreneurship and sound public finances, it’s high time the Tories end the ‘war on drugs’ and decriminalise weed.

By Rachel Cunliffe

Cannabis triggered my derealisation disorder

Doing weed is meant to help you relax, but sometimes it can do exactly the opposite. Stewart was 18 when he first started smoking skunk. He tells The Mix about his experience of derealisation and how it triggered his anxiety disorder.

By Nishika Melwani

Is medical cannabis really a magic bullet?

Research increasingly suggests that extracts from the plant are effective in treating pain, anxiety, epilepsy and more, but experts still preach caution around recreational use.

By David Cox

Cannabis users five times more likely to have suicidal thoughts, study finds

People who smoke marijuana every day are most at risk, with female smokers particularly susceptible.

By Joe Pinkstone

$13 billion US cannabis production industry ‘damaging environment’, study finds

Researchers found heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems used the most electricity when growing plants.

By Brendan McFadden, Freelance reporter and late editor

10% of teenagers have tried hard drugs by age 17

Almost a third of 17-year-olds have tried cannabis and one in 10 have tried harder drugs, such as cocaine, ecstasy and ketamine, with similar rates of experimentation regardless of parents’ education level, finds a new study by UCL Institute of Education (IOE) researchers.

Illegal drug use by young people is more than double official estimates, major study reveals

It has led to fears Government data could be hampering efforts to combat drug use.

By Charles Hymas, home affairs editor

Cannabis misuse

An extract from the report Drug misuse in England and Wales: year ending March 2020.

Cannabis: the facts

Cannabis (also known as marijuana, weed, pot, dope or grass) is the most widely used illegal drug in the UK.

Cannabis strength soars over past half century – new study

Largest study on how cannabis has changed over time finds increased strength putting consumers at greater risk of harm.

The effects of marijuana on your brain and body

Ingesting cannabis triggers a cascade of effects that can influence your bodily function.

Medically reviewed by Dr Roger Henderson and words by Annie Hayes