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Cannabis

What is cannabis?

Cannabis is a drug made up of the leaves, flowers, and buds of the cannabis plant. Cannabis may be used for medical and non-medical reasons.

There are more than 100 different chemical compounds, or cannabinoids, in the cannabis plant. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are the 2 most known and most often studied.

  • THC changes how you think, act, and feel and can make you feel "high".
  • CBD can make you feel relaxed without the "high".

There are many types (strains) of cannabis. Each strain has a different amount of THC and CBD so the effects are different for each. For example, if a strain of cannabis has more THC than CBD, it's more likely to change how you:

  • think, act, and feel
  • move your body (your coordination)
  • make decisions (your judgment)


Current as of: October 16, 2019

Author: Addiction and Mental Health, Alberta Health Services