Cannabinoid · cannabinoid
Cannabis
aka Weed · Marijuana · Pot · Grass · Hash · Bud
Last verified
Cannabis is a flowering plant whose active compounds; primarily Δ⁹-THC (the main psychoactive cannabinoid) and CBD (non-psychoactive, modulating); produce relaxation, euphoria, sensory enhancement and appetite stimulation. It is one of the most widely used psychoactive substances in the world and has comparatively low acute toxicity, but is not without harms, particularly with daily use or high-THC concentrates.
The dose ranges above are listed in milligrams of THC. Modern flower averages 15–25% THC, so a 0.3 g joint delivers roughly 45–75 mg of THC, of which 10–30 mg is typically absorbed depending on technique.
Harm reduction
- Edibles take 30–120 minutes to kick in. Do not redose because "nothing is happening". The single largest cause of bad cannabis experiences is impatient redosing on edibles.
- Start low with concentrates. A single dab of 80% THC concentrate can deliver 5× a joint's worth of THC in one breath.
- Avoid mixing with alcohol. Cross-fading dramatically increases nausea, dizziness and the likelihood of a "whitey" (vasovagal episode).
- If you have a personal or family history of psychotic disorders, the risk of triggering or worsening symptoms is meaningfully elevated with daily or high-THC use.
- Cannabis dependence is real in roughly 9% of users. If you find you can't take a 2-week tolerance break easily, that's signal.
- Vape or eat instead of smoking to avoid combustion byproducts. Vaped or oral cannabis has substantially lower respiratory impact.
Dosage.
Smoked
- Threshold
- 1 mg
- Light
- 2–4 mg
- Common
- 4–10 mg
- Strong
- 10–20 mg
- Heavy
- 20 mg
Oral
- Threshold
- 1 mg
- Light
- 2.5–5 mg
- Common
- 5–15 mg
- Strong
- 15–30 mg
- Heavy
- 30 mg
| Route | Threshold | Light | Common | Strong | Heavy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smoked | 1 mg | 2–4 mg | 4–10 mg | 10–20 mg | 20 mg |
| Oral | 1 mg | 2.5–5 mg | 5–15 mg | 15–30 mg | 30 mg |
Start at the bottom. Body chemistry, tolerance, and combinations all matter.
Duration.
Smoked
total ~ 710 min- Onset
- 1–10 min
- Peak
- 15–40 min
- Offset
- 60–180 min
- After
- 2–8h
Oral
total ~ 1440 min- Onset
- 30–120 min
- Peak
- 2–4h
- Offset
- 3–6h
- After
- 4–12h
Effects.
Positive
- Relaxation and stress relief
- Euphoria and giggle
- Music and food appreciation
- Mild introspection
- Creative thinking (low doses)
Neutral
- Time distortion
- Increased appetite ("munchies")
- Red eyes
- Mild tachycardia
Negative
- Anxiety, paranoia or panic (especially with high-THC products)
- Short-term memory disruption
- Couch lock and lethargy
- Cannabinoid hyperemesis with chronic heavy use
- Dependence potential with daily use
Interactions.
Heads up
Many drug combinations are unsafe even at low doses. When in doubt, take less or abstain. Always cross-check with the interaction checker tool.
Unsafe
Substantial risk. Combination not recommended.
- dxm
- alcohol
Caution
Mild interaction. Use with reduced doses.
- stimulants
- mdma
- psychedelics
- ketamine
Testing.
- ReagentDuquenois-levineExpected reactionPurple (confirms cannabinoids)
- ReagentFast-blue-bbExpected reactionRed-orange (confirms THC/CBD)
| Reagent | Expected reaction |
|---|---|
| Duquenois-levine | Purple (confirms cannabinoids) |
| Fast-blue-bb | Red-orange (confirms THC/CBD) |
Cross-check with a secondary reagent. Tests tell you what something isn't, not always what it is.
Legal status.
- DEGermanyLegal
- ATAustriaIllegal
- CHSwitzerlandLegal
- NLNetherlandsIllegal but tolerated
- BEBelgiumDecriminalised
- LULuxembourgLegal
- FRFranceIllegal
- ESSpainDecriminalised
- PTPortugalDecriminalised
- ITItalyDecriminalised
- PLPolandIllegal
- CZCzechiaDecriminalised
- SESwedenIllegal
- DKDenmarkIllegal
- NONorwayIllegal
- FIFinlandIllegal
- IEIrelandClass C
- UKUnited KingdomClass B
- USUnited StatesSchedule I
- CACanadaLegal
- AUAustraliaMedically legal
- TRTurkeyIllegal
| Country | Status |
|---|---|
| DEGermany | Legal |
| ATAustria | Illegal |
| CHSwitzerland | Legal |
| NLNetherlands | Illegal but tolerated |
| BEBelgium | Decriminalised |
| LULuxembourg | Legal |
| FRFrance | Illegal |
| ESSpain | Decriminalised |
| PTPortugal | Decriminalised |
| ITItaly | Decriminalised |
| PLPoland | Illegal |
| CZCzechia | Decriminalised |
| SESweden | Illegal |
| DKDenmark | Illegal |
| NONorway | Illegal |
| FIFinland | Illegal |
| IEIreland | Class C |
| UKUnited Kingdom | Class B |
| USUnited States | Schedule I |
| CACanada | Legal |
| AUAustralia | Medically legal |
| TRTurkey | Illegal |
Information, not legal advice. Status varies by region and changes over time.
FAQ.
How long does Cannabis last?
A typical oral Cannabis experience peaks around 120–240 minutes and then tails off, with after-effects that can run several hours. The exact window depends on dose, body weight and what else you've eaten or taken.
Can you overdose on Cannabis?
Yes. Higher doses sharply raise the risk of acute harm (cardiovascular strain, hyperthermia, serotonin issues for serotonergic drugs, respiratory depression for downers). Stick to the lowest dose that gives you the effect you're after, never re-dose blindly, and use our [dose calculator](/tools/dosage-calculator) before you weigh anything out.
Is Cannabis addictive?
Cannabis can produce psychological dependence with frequent use, especially in unstable settings or when used to self-medicate. Physical dependence varies by substance class; the safest pattern is occasional use with long breaks (often 4–6 weeks minimum) and an honest read on why you're reaching for it.
What does Cannabis feel like?
Common subjective effects include the ones listed in the Effects section above. Set and setting massively shape the experience: a calm space, trusted people, food eaten, sleep the night before, and your own current mood all matter more than most people expect.
Can you mix Cannabis with alcohol?
Mixing with alcohol is rarely a good idea — it dulls your judgement of how much you've taken, dehydrates you, and stacks cardiovascular load. If alcohol is on the table, drink less than normal, alternate with water, and run the combination through our [interaction checker](/tools/interaction-checker) first.
How do I test Cannabis at home?
A basic reagent kit (Marquis + Mandelin + Mecke for most stimulants/entactogens; Ehrlich for tryptamines) gives you a fast presence check. It does NOT measure dose or purity, but it does rule out the most dangerous misrepresentations. See the [reagent guide](/tools/reagent-guide) for expected colors per reagent.
How much Cannabis is too much?
There's no single number that applies to everyone. As a rule, anything above the 'strong' dose range (15-30 mg for the primary route) carries sharply higher risk of acute harm. Start low, don't redose blindly, and remember that purity varies batch to batch.
How long until Cannabis kicks in?
Onset is typically 30-120 minutes via the primary route. Don't redose because you 'don't feel anything yet.' Many people have overdone it by stacking doses during the come-up window.
Can you build tolerance to Cannabis?
Yes. Regular use builds tolerance, meaning you need more for the same effect. This escalation increases both health risk and dependence potential. The best counter is long breaks between sessions (2-4 weeks minimum for most substances, 3 months for MDMA-class drugs).
Is Cannabis tested for in standard drug screens?
Yes. Cannabis is typically detected under the cannabinoids (THC) category in standard SAMHSA-5 panels. Urine detection window is roughly 3-30 days depending on frequency. See our [detection guide](/news/how-long-does-cannabis-stay-in-your-system) for full details.