As a drug, marijuana seems to be in a class of its own. “The precise classification of THC is uncertain,” write Hanson, Venturelli & Fleckenstein, “because the responses to marijuana are highly variable and appear to have elements of all three major groups of drugs of abuse.” (Hanson et al., 2004, p. 390) Pot causes euphoria like stimulants do, drowsiness like depressants, and hallucinations like hallucinogenics.

Marijuana contains at least 421 chemicals, including around 60 different cannabinoids, the main one being THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol. THC mimics the structure of molecules called endocannabinoids that the human body produces naturally. (Khamsi, 2013) Receptors for endocannabinoids are abundant in the brain, but naturally acting compounds are short lived, so the effects are fleeting. (Seppa, 2010)

Marijuana in the body and the length of its effects

When a user smokes marijuana, the psychoactive chemicals reach their brain within 14 seconds of inhalation. The typical high from a joint will last 2 to 3 hours. However, there can be residual effects and impairment that extend well beyond that, up to 24 hours in some cases.

Completely eliminating it from the body takes up to 30 days, sometimes longer, since the chemical is stored in body fat.

Though THC can be consumed in a variety of methods, including as edibles or through intravenous use, smoking it is more potent than any other method, delivering 3- to 5-times as much of the psychoactive ingredients to the brain as these other methods, which is why smoking it will always be the preferred form of use.

The marijuana high The typical marijuana user will experience a “soft” euphoric high (soft meaning the high comes on more gradually and subtly than it does with something like cocaine or heroin) that generally enhances their mood and heightens sensory perception. Colors seem more vivid, jokes become funnier, food tastes better.

Higher concentrations of marijuana can produce a hallucinogenic high, leading to hallucinations, delusions, or general paranoia. A small subset of the population may be more prone to the hallucinogenic effects of marijuana, even at lower doses, and may lead to dangerous behavior like leaping off balconies or causing a public ruckus.

States that have legalized marijuana have seen an increase in psychotic reactions, especially in first time users, and as the THC content of marijuana has increased, “psychiatric emergencies from marijuana overdose are becoming somewhat common.” (Hanson et al., 2004, p. 390)

The effects of marijuana can also vary greatly depending on the psychological state of the user. Like many drugs, it may have the tendency to amplify whatever mood a user is in, whether positive or negative. Panic or paranoia is seen more often in those under stress, and negative experiences may be fairly common: More than half of all regular users experience at least some adverse reactions from the drug on one or more occasions. (ibid)