Social to heavy use of cannabis

Experimental use
In a 1990 study of drug use in New Zealand, researchers surveyed about 5000 people aged 15 to 45 years. Forty three per cent of those sampled said they had used cannabis at some time, but 23 per cent said they had not used it more than five times. Only 12 per cent of the group said they were currently using cannabis, with three per cent saying they had used cannabis more than 10 times in the past 30 days.
 
The study showed that a lot of this group of New Zealanders had tried cannabis but that, for about half, their use was experimental. They would be unlikely to develop problems with cannabis.

Social use
People who use cannabis socially do not feel a compulsion to use it, but rather choose to use it for its effects, which they enjoy. This use is generally relatively light and usually does not lead to health or social problems for the user.

However, cannabis use is illegal in New Zealand, and people who use it socially may be charged with possession for personal use of a class B or class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act (1975).

Problem use of cannabis
Cannabis use can be considered a problem when people start to see cannabis use as more important than other activities, or if problems related to cannabis use arise. Indicators of problematic use include hassles with friends or family, health effects, financial pressure or using cannabis as a way to manage difficult feelings, stresses or situations.

Dependent use of cannabis
Relative to other drugs, cannabis is considered less addictive than opiates (heroin, opium, etc) cocaine or nicotine. It is thought to be more like alcohol in terms of risk of dependence.

Dependence on cannabis is the most common dependence on an illegal drug in New Zealand and Australia. When a person is dependent on cannabis he/she experiences problems controlling use, and continues to use it despite negative consequences. Cannabis use may assume more importance than other activities.

Signs of dependence include the following:

• Increased tolerance, which means larger amounts of the drug are needed to get the same effect obtained previously from smaller amounts. If a person smokes regularly they will need more cannabis to get the same effect
• Psychological dependence, which means cannabis can become central to a person's thoughts and actions. They may spend large amounts of time thinking about cannabis, about how they are going to get their cannabis and about when they are next going to use it. Features of psychological dependence include craving cannabis; using more cannabis than was originally intended; being unable to control how much is taken: and needing cannabis to feel normal, happy or good.
• Physical dependence, which means both that tolerance can occur, as above, and that a person can go into physical withdrawal if they stop using cannabis. Withdrawal is often associated with flu-like feelings, irritability, mood swings, finding it difficult to sleep and headaches. Withdrawal from cannabis can take two weeks or longer for heavy, long-term users.

Reducing risks from cannabis use

Sometimes people feel a pressure to try cannabis if friends are doing it or talking about it. It is important you do what is right for you rather than what you feel pressured to do when it comes to any risky behaviour.

It is much better to say "no" or just ignore people's invitation to use cannabis if you're not entirely comfortable with going ahead.

If you are in two minds about trying the drug it is probably more likely you won't enjoy the experience anyway.

If you have decided to experiment with using cannabis, consider these suggestions.

• Be with friends you trust and feel safe with. Before you use, acknowledge to those you are with that it is your first time and ask them to agree that if you or anyone wants comforting or other help it is okay to ask for it.
• Use marijuana leaf rather than hashish or hashish oil since these products are much more potent. If you don't know what it is, ask. Also ask how strong it is. If you are told it is strong, use very small amounts. Remember it takes a while to kick in so you may not feel any effect for three to five minutes.
• If you have a mental health problem or have a family with a history of mental health problems you may experience very nasty effects such as severe confusion, paranoia or panic. It is better you don't use the drug at all if you are in this category. If you insist on using it, do so in very small doses (for example, try one or two puffs and leave it for about another half hour) so you can recover quickly if the experience is unpleasant. Some people panic because they cannot escape from the anxiety and fear they experience.
• Use the drug in an environment where you can relax. Don't experiment in a situation where you are pressured to perform, such as around exam time.
• Walk, take a cab or have a non-using person take you out. Driving after cannabis use is dangerous.
• Do not take cannabis with other drugs (including alcohol) at the same time. Taking more than one drug at once can make reactions worse.
• If you are emotionally low or vulnerable, put off your experiment for another time. Sometimes cannabis makes people more distressed.
• It is better not to take cannabis in front of children or invite young adolescents to join you. Don't tell kids afterwards what you did or what it was like, in a way that glamorises it.

Do you have a cannabis problem?

Whether or not cannabis is a good drug or a bad drug is not an issue when deciding if you have a problem with it.

Here are some issues to think about in relation to your cannabis use.

• How much do you smoke?
• Does it seem you are getting stoned too often?
• Are you using too much cannabis?
• Do you seem to be dependent on cannabis?
• Do you need to smoke more and more cannabis to get the same effect?
• Does your life, and the things that you do, seem to revolve around cannabis?
• Do you feel irritable if you do not have any cannabis? 
• Is cannabis causing a problem in your life?
• Is it getting you into conflict with your family, whanau or friends, or interfering with your relationships?
• Is cannabis affecting your performance at work or at school?
• Is cannabis getting you into trouble with the law?
• Are you mixing only with people who also use cannabis?
• Is cannabis affecting your physical health?
• Is it connected to your feeling anxious, depressed, or confused?
• Are you having problems with your memory and concentration?
• If you are currently experiencing mental health problems, is your cannabis use making it harder for you?

If you answer "yes" to any of these questions you need to think about whether or not using cannabis is worth it. A useful thing to do is to draw up a list of the good things and the not so good things you can think of to do with cannabis, and weigh them up.

Write down all the good things you can think of, eg, that smoking dope makes you feel better, means you have a good time with your friends or whatever. In terms of the less good things, consider any negative effects that cannabis is having on your life.
 
What does your family or whanau say about your drug use? Is it having any effect on them? On your relationships with others? What about your health? Playing sport?

Look at the balance of the good things and the less good things. Is your drug-taking a problem for you or for other people? Do you need to change something about it? If taking marijuana or hashish is causing problems in your life are you ready to do something about it?

See also: What is cannabis, and what are its effects? 
Cannabis - acknowledging problem use;
Cannabis - overcoming problem use

Support groups

See the support organisations (which include helplines) under Further information and support below.

Original material provided by the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand, 2002. Edited by everybody, June 2005.