Originally posted by janrocks(but not rolls I see :P) :

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and causes psychological problems

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Quote:

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When smoked, THC is rapidly absorbed, and effects appear within minutes, If marijuana is of low potency, effects may be subtle and brief. Seldom do they last longer than 2 to 3 h after a single cigarette, although users prolong the effects by repeated smoking. Oral doses delay the onset of symptoms for 30 min to over 2 h, as well as prolonging the span of action of the drug.

These time schedules are consistent with knowledge of the pharmacokinetics of the drug. Smoking is similar to i.v. administration in producing maximum plasma concentrations early, while p.o. administration produces slower rises of maximum plasma concentrations, which are also lower than those for smoking (105, 130). Although the route of administration affects the time course and the intensity of cannabis effects in man, the pattern of these effects was well established by early investigators (84, 88).

All observers have commented on the constant increase in pulse rate, often one of the first effects of the drug. Blood pressure tends to fall slightly or remains unchanged; at higher doses, orthostatic hypotension occurs.

Conjunctival reddening is also consistently observed. Both this symptom and the increased pulse rate correlate quite well in time with the appearance and duration of psychic effects of the drug, as well as the plasma concentrations of the drug (6). Muscle strength is decreased. Appetite is consistently augmented, along with an increased food intake (80). Observed physiological effects have not included changes in pupil size, respiratory rate, or deep tendon reflexes.

Perceptual and psychic changes are biphasic. An initial period of euphoria or "high" is followed by drowsiness. Time sense is altered, hearing is less discriminant, and vision is apparently sharper with many visual distortions.

Depersonalization, difficulty in concentrating and thinking, dream-like states are prominent. Many of these symptoms are similar to those produced by psychotomimetics.

The effects that users derive from cannabis are extremely variable. Some of this variability depends on individual variation in degree of tolerance to the drug, based on prior use. Although it is customary to ascribe some variability to difference in setting, i.e., the type of conditions and surroundings which prevail during the drug use, or to set, i.e., the expectations of the user, proving the effects of either has been difficult.

One study indicated that, with pharmacologically active doses of the drug, extreme variations in setting produced little alteration of drug effects, which were clearly different from those produced by placebo

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