CANNABIS INDICA hemp CANNABIS INDICA hemp n It

CANNABIS INDICA (hemp)

CANNABIS INDICA (hemp) n It is a CNS stimulant n Cultivation is restricted by Law n All parts of the plant are poisonous n Psychological dependence, tolerance

ACTIVE PRINCIPLE n Fat soluble oleoresin- Tetrahydro -cannabinol(THC) n Stored in fat cells of body and acts like time release capsule n The effect of a single dose lasts for 7 days

Common Names Ø Indian hemp or cannabis sativa in India Ø Dagga in South & Central Africa Ø Hashish in Egypt Ø Marihuana: Mexican pleasurable feeling term meaning

Forms of hemp n Common forms of hemp Ø BHANG Ø MAJOON Ø GANJA Ø CHARAS Ø MARIJUANA

BHANG n Least potent form n 15% active principle n Prepared from dried leaves & fruit shoots n Used as an infusion in the form of a beverage n Effect lasts for three hours -----sleep

MAJOON n Sweet prepared with bhang n Produces grandiose delusion in addition to the effects of bhang

GANJA n n n Consists of flowering tops of the female plant It is mixed with tobacco & smoked in pipe Active principle in conc. of 25% Smoker feels lazy & indulges in day dreaming Used by sadhus and fakirs

MARIHUANA OR MARIJUANA n n Common names are pot, grass, tea and Mary Jane Eaten alone or drunk in beer or beverage Smoked in pipe or rolled in cigarette called reefers or weed(500 mg) Their use leads to consumption of more dangerous drugs & in particular to heroin addiction

CHARAS OR HASHISH n Resin exuding from leaves and stem n Smoked with tobacco in a pipe ‘hookah’ n Active principle is in con of 25 - 40% n It is the most powerful of all cannabis preparations

Sign & Symptoms Euphoria Feeling of well being, talkative Appetite is increased Confusion, ataxia Impaired memory Disturbed thought patterns Tingling & numbness

HASHISH INSANITY (Chronic Poisoning) (Often attributed to chronic use) § Patient suffers from hallucinations and delusions of persecution § Irresistible desire to destroy life and property, of which he has no recollection after wards § Likely to commit sexual jealousy crimes

RUN AMOK § § § It is a condition caused by the continued use or even first time use of cannabis Impaired judgement from cannabis leads to accidents, sexual excesses, violence & crime. It is characterized by desire of the person to commit murders He first kills the person against whom he may have real or imaginary enmity and then kills anyone who comes in his way until the homicidal tendency lasts. Then he may commit suicide or surrender himself to police.

TREATMENT n Stomach wash with warm water n Saline purgatives n Artificial respiration n 5 -10 mg diazepam if aggressive n Hypodermic injection of strychnine n Strong tea or coffee

Medicolegal Aspects n Majun and charas are used as road poison or stupefying poison. n To strengthen the nerves before committing a crime or a bold act( ganga)