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Dagga (Cannabis)
Cannabis, also known as dagga, marijuana, pot, grass, dope, zol, doobie, ganja and by a host of other names is the most commonly abused illegal drug in South Africa. It is mistakenly known as a “soft” drug but is, in fact, a potent hallucinogen that, when abused, can have lasting and very harmful effects.

Dagga consists of the dried leaves and flowers of Cannabis Sativa. In appearance it looks similar to dry, mixed herbs. It ranges in colour from green-gray to green-brown and often contains broken wooden stems and seeds (known as “pips”).

Hashish, a by-product of dagga, is made by scraping off the resin exuded by the flowering tops and compressing it into small blocks which may range in colour from pale brown to black.

Dagga is sold in various forms:
  • Loose in plastic bank packets
  • Tightly rolled into cigar shaped packages of varying thickness.
  • A large oblong package of dagga also wrapped in paper is known as an "arm".
  • A tightly compressed block of dagga is known as a "brick".
  • Thin, ready rolled cigarettes, often bound in string in bunches of ten or twenty.
The price varies according to the quality of the cannabis and supply and demand.

In SA dagga is usually smoked in hand-rolled cigarettes or in pipes. A variety of pipes may be used from ordinary tobacco pipes to special dagga pipes and water pipes ("hubby bubblies"), which filter the dagga through a small reservoir of water. Broken off bottlenecks, sometimes known as "green pipes" are frequently used for smoking dagga.

When Mandrax or other tablets are added to the dagga in a bottleneck it is referred to as a "white pipe". Frequent pipe smoking tends to cause unsightly yellowish-brown stains on the palm of the hands. These marks, together with obvious redness and puffiness of the eyes are the telltale signs of a habitual dagga smoker.

Dagga is also sometimes ingested by mouth in the form of small cakes or loaves baked with dagga as an ingredient, or can be infused in boiling water to make tea.

WHAT MAKES DAGGA INTOXICATING?
Dagga is a combination of a wide variety of chemical compounds collectively known as cannabinoids. These have hypnotic, sedative, tranquillizing, anti-convulsant and analgesic effects. They also increase the appetite and affect the cardio-vascular respiratory, reproductive and immune systems.

The main psychoactive ingredient is tetra-hydro-cannibinol or THC. The potency of the dagga depends on the amount of THC it contains. The upper leaves and flowering tops of the dagga plant contain the most THC. Hashish contains a lot more THC than dagga and is therefore more potent and potentially damaging.

THC is fat-soluble and accumulates in the fatty tissue of the body, including the brain and the sex glands, and is eliminated at a very slow rate.
Traces of THC from only one joint can remain in the body for up to three weeks.

THE EFFECTS OF DAGGA
  • One or more of the following may be experienced:
  • Lightheadedness
  • Relaxation
  • Talkativeness
  • Increased appetite (“munchies”)
  • Feelings of detachment and euphoria
  • Changes in perception
  • A heightened awareness of all of the senses
  • Impairment of concentration and understanding
  • Short-term memory loss
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Panic attacks
  • Delusions bordering on paranoia
  • Aggression
  • Frightening auditory and/or visual hallucinations (In acute cases of intoxication or where there may be psychological vulnerability)
Physical changes:
  • Increased pulse rate
  • Coldness in the extremities
  • Dryness of the mouth
  • Reddened eyes
  • Swollen eyes
  • Nausea
THE CONSEQUENCES OF DAGGA USE
There is a debate about whether dagga causes physical addiction. Experience has shown that the longer dagga is used, the greater the chance that physical dependence will occur, and that the user will experience physical withdrawal. Because THC is stored in fatty tissue, long-term users experience withdrawal symptoms for several weeks, in spite of being detoxified by recommended methods.

There is no doubt that this drug causes psychological dependence which is every bit as dangerous as physical addiction and can have disastrous consequences for the addict, the family and for society.

With frequent use the addict develops a tolerance for the drug. In other words, more and more is needed to experience the same effect or "high".

IT'S DIFFICULT TO QUIT
Typically, a user wanting to stop will be fairly successful for the first week or two. Thereafter he/she will experience a craving for the drug. This craving will be accompanied by a sophisticated belief system, which will rationalize why it is OK to continue to use dagga. This is in fact the user’s denial mechanism in operation, ensuring that the addiction is fed.

When the drug is withdrawn, the user will experience:
  • Depression
  • Nausea
  • Muscle convulsions
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Shivers or tremors
  • Diarrhea
  • Irritability
  • Sweating
Sometimes "reverse tolerance" develops. The user requires smaller amounts for the same "high". The reason for this is that the THC levels in the body are so high that only small amounts are needed to "top up" in order to feel "stoned".

PSYCHOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES
Dagga accumulates in the body. Because it is stored in the fatty tissue and not readily eliminated. If it is used regularly it can cause a marked decline in the users mental, emotional and social well-being.

Impairment of Concentration
Researchers have found that the drug affects short-term memory and users who are “stoned” may have difficulty transferring new information into their long-term memory. Users often have a short attention span and have difficulty concentrating on mathematical and verbal tasks. This causes a decline in performance at work, school or university. The damage to memory and concentration is reversible if dagga use ceases and if the use has not been of a chronic nature.

"A-motivational Syndrome"
Experts refer to a state known as “a-motivational syndrome” where the user becomes lethargic, forgetful, anti-social and often loses all ambition and drive. This may cause the user to abandon his/her studies. Very often the user settles for a job way below his/her potential and abilities. Sometimes the user may even lose a job and be happy to become dependent on family and friends for financial support. The user may undergo a complete personality change, becoming paranoid with irrational fears and feelings of persecution.

Existing Emotional Problems are Aggravated
Any emotional problem or feeling of depression can be escalated into a serious threat. Adolescents are especially vulnerable as they cope with many changes and life choices.
Excessive use can cause “dagga psychosis” which is often indistinguishable from other psychotic disorders. The user can experience:
  • Agitation
  • Delusional thinking
  • Paranoia
  • Hallucinations
  • Aggression
  • Emotional emptiness
  • Exaggerated emotional behaviour.
Stunted Emotional Growth
When young people begin to use dagga as away of escaping from their problems and avoiding the pain of their feelings, they deny themselves the opportunity of growth and maturity. Their emotional growth is retarded, as they are not able to take responsibility for their actions. They do not have the opportunity to develop a range of coping skills, but rely solely on a substance to cope.

PHYSICAL CONSEQUENCES

The Reproductive System
Prolonged dagga use can cause at least temporary loss of fertility in both males and females and can reduce the level of male and female hormones. Studies have shown that men who use dagga have a lower sperm count than is normal for men their age. Dagga could also cause women to have irregular menstrual cycles. The drug depresses the reproductive function in both sexes resulting in infertility, which is probably reversible, but in cases of chronic use can be irreversible. Dagga is also dangerous for pregnant women as it crosses the placenta and can result in premature babies, low birth weight and foetal abnormalities. This happens because the foetus receives the same dose of THC as the adult and stores in the fatty tissue of the baby’s brain in the same way it would in an adult. The baby could also be born dependent on dagga and spend its first few weeks in withdrawal. Similarly, THC enters the mother’s breast milk and will affect the baby.

The Respiratory System
Cannabis tar contains higher percentages of cancer producing toxins than tobacco tar, thus increasing the risk of lung cancer. Dagga smoking is associated with chronic respiratory tract conditions such as bronchitis, asthma and emphysema.
Dagga smokers inhale very deeply and hold the smoke in the lungs as long as possible in order to absorb as much THC as possible. “Joints” do not have filters and are usually smoked right down to the end. This means that smoking a few joints in one day can do as much damage to the respiratory system as smoking a whole packet of high-tar cigarettes.

The Immune System
Chronic dagga use results in a general deterioration in the users health, as it tends to interfere with the immune system and the body’s ability to fight off infections and disease.

The Cardiovascular System
Smoking causes tachycardia (abnormally rapid heartbeat) and low blood pressure. These changes may precipitate angina or even death. Those with heart disease are obviously at greater risk.

DOES DAGGA USE LEAD TO OTHER DRUGS?
Dagga is often referred to as a “gateway” drug because it can lead to people experimenting with other drugs. In fact alcohol and nicotine are the real “gateway” drugs. People become used to using substances for fun, for relaxation and for escape. No one knows for sure where this will end. The sad fact is that one in seven people who use alcohol will become addicted, and I am sure that the statistics are higher for cannabis as it is a more addictive substance.

Taking the step to experiment with dagga, which is an illegal substance, does make it easier to start using other illegal drugs. In this way it can be regarded at a “gateway” drug. In fact it is a pretty serious drug to be using in any event. It qualifies on its own as a “destination” drug. There are many addicts who are addicted to cannabis and who cannot kick the habit. These people have lost relationships, children, family and jobs, just the same as any cocaine addict.

SOME MYTHS ABOUT DAGGA
  • IT IS NOT AS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DAGGA AS IT IS TO DRIVE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL. Dagga impairs concentration and judgment and slows down reflexes. Even one joint can cause distortions of time and space, which make spatial judgment difficult. The effect may last for days because of THC’s cumulative effect and slow elimination.
  • DAGGA IS NOT AS HARMFUL AS ALCOHOL. Both substances are harmful mood altering substances that have addictive potential. Alcohol is a short acting drug and is flushed through the body within 12 hours. Dagga can stay in the body for 3 weeks or more.
  • DAGGA DOESN’T CAUSE CANCER. Dagga is high in tar and the THC stored in fatty tissue is thought to be carcinogenic.
  • DAGGA IS SAFE BECAUSE IT IS ORGANIC AND NATURAL. Poison Ivy, Deadly Nightshade and Oleander leaves are also natural and not many people eat them! Many plants and herbs are unsafe to consume. Natural does not mean safe.
  • DAGGA IS SOMETIMES USED TO TREAT ASTHMA, T.B., AND CANCER. Most of these treatments are now outdated and have been replaced. Cannabis is thought to help with the nausea associated with terminal cancer. Research is presently centered on extracting the helpful properties and rendering them in a safe format.
  • DAGGA IS BETTER THAN ALCOHOL BECAUSE IT DOES NOT GIVE YOU A HANGOVER OR MAKE YOU AGGRESSIVE. Reactions depend on the person who is taking the substance, just as with alcohol. Reactions are varied and unpredictable. In some cases irreversible psychosis has resulted from just one joint! Certain people become very aggressive when smoking cannabis. Others are left with a definite feeling of sluggishness and mental impairment after smoking.
  • DAGGA HEIGHTENS CREATIVITY, CONCENTRATION AND PERCEPTION. This is certainly in the eye of the beholder. Clinical studies have shown that independent examiners rated users of dagga as less creative, less able to concentrate and to have poorer perception that non-users.
  • SEX IS BETTER AFTER SMOKING DAGGA. Dagga actually reduces the sex drive and adversely affects the reproductive system.
  • DAGGA ISN’T ADDICTIVE. This is definitely not true. It causes serious psychological and physical addiction. It is one of the most difficult addictions to treat because withdrawal symptoms and cravings are experienced for such a long time after the dagga use has stopped.
  • IT’S MY LIFE AND I CAN DO WHAT I CHOOSE. Dagga users affect every member of the family because the user is de-motivated, irritable, moody and often destructive. The fact that the drug is illegal also puts a strain on the family. The irony is that you may feel you are in control at first, but it soon begins to control you!