One common illicit drug is marijuana, which are dried parts of the plant Cannibis sativa or Cannibis indica. The main psycho-active ingredient in this plant is THC or tetrahydrocannabinol.
Many people either smoke or use vaporizers when using this drug. People can also mix the plant into food (commonly called edibles). There are several short-term and long-term effects from the use of marijuana. Health risks include breathing problems, lower birth weight if used during pregnancy, and mental health problems.
There have been several research studies looking at medical uses for marijuana, in particular two drugs within it which are THC and CBD. The Food and Drug Administration does not currently consider marijuana to be a medicine, however, several laws around the US has made it legal to use marijuana for medical reasons. This may include managing nausea when on chemotherapy for cancer, or for treatment of epilepsy.
Some US states have also started to allow recreational marijuana use – see the map here https://www.businessinsider.com/legal-marijuana-states-2018-1. However, this drug is still considered illegal on the federal level, so the status of sellers remains uncertain.
As with most psychoactive drugs, people can abuse marijuana and can develop marijuana use disorder. There are behavioral treatments available.
