Cannabis

Cannabis is a plant-based drug that can be smoked, eaten or vaped. It affects how the brain works and can change mood, perception, memory and judgement.

Although some people see cannabis as low risk, it can still have a real impact on physical and mental health, especially with regular or heavy use, strong forms, or when mixed with other substances.

Street names you might hear

Across the UK and North West, cannabis is commonly known as:

  • Weed

  • Grass

  • Pot

  • Green

  • Skunk

  • Hash

  • Resin

  • Dope

Different names are often used for different strengths or forms.

What does cannabis look like?

Cannabis comes from the cannabis plant and can look very different depending on the type.

Weed (grass)
Dried leaves and flowering tops of the plant. It looks like dried herbs and is usually green or brownish-green.

Skunk
A strong form of weed that has become very common. Skunk is often bright green and covered in tiny crystals. It usually contains high levels of THC.

Hash (resin)
Made from compressed cannabis resin. It can be black or brown, soft or hard. Hash is less common than it used to be.

Cannabis oil
A dark, sticky, honey-coloured substance.

Dab / shatter
Highly concentrated forms of cannabis made using chemicals such as butane. These are very strong and carry higher risks.

What does cannabis smell or taste like?

Cannabis usually has a musky, sweet smell. Stronger types, such as skunk, often have a much stronger odour.

How do people use cannabis?

People use cannabis in different ways, each with different risks.

Smoking joints or spliffs
In the UK, cannabis is often mixed with tobacco and rolled into a joint or spliff. Mixing with tobacco increases the risk of nicotine addiction.

Smoking bongs or pipes
Cannabis is smoked through water. Tobacco is often added, which again increases nicotine-related risks.

Eating or drinking cannabis (edibles)
Cannabis can be mixed into cakes, sweets, drinks or food. The strength is unpredictable, and it is easy to take too much by accident. Some sweets or vapes sold as cannabis may actually contain synthetic cannabinoids, which are much more dangerous.

Vaping
Cannabis can be vaped using dry herb vapes or e-liquids. The long-term health effects of vaping cannabis are not fully understood. Illegal cannabis vapes may contain unknown or harmful substances.

How cannabis can make you feel

The effects of cannabis vary a lot from person to person.

Some people feel:

  • Relaxed or chilled

  • Happy or giggly

  • Talkative

  • Sleepy or drowsy

Others may experience:

  • Anxiety or panic

  • Paranoia

  • Confusion

  • Low motivation

Cannabis can affect judgement and thinking. People often feel that thoughts or conversations are deeper or more important than they would normally seem.

It can also:

  • Increase appetite (the munchies)

  • Cause nausea or dizziness (sometimes called a whitey)

  • Make time feel like it is slowing down

THC and CBD

Cannabis contains many chemicals, but the two most talked about are THC and CBD.

THC
This is the main psychoactive ingredient. It causes the “high” and is linked to anxiety, paranoia and hallucinations at higher doses.

CBD
CBD does not cause a high and may reduce some of the negative effects of THC, such as anxiety.

Strong forms like skunk usually contain high THC and very little CBD. You cannot tell the balance just by looking or smelling cannabis, but hash often contains more CBD than skunk.

How cannabis can affect behaviour

Cannabis can make some people:

  • Giggly and chatty

It can also make others:

  • Anxious or paranoid

  • Confused

  • Withdrawn or unmotivated

Strong cannabis can cause mild hallucinations and can make it harder to concentrate, learn or remember things.

How long the effects last

How long cannabis lasts depends on how it is used and how much is taken.

  • When smoked, effects usually start within a couple of minutes

  • When eaten, effects can take up to an hour to begin

Effects can last:

  • 1 to 2 hours when smoked

  • 2 to 4 hours or longer when eaten

Some people still feel effects the next day after heavy use.

Cannabis can show up in urine tests for:

  • 2 to 3 days after one-off use

  • Up to a month for regular users

Physical health risks

Smoking cannabis can:

  • Make you cough or wheeze

  • Worsen asthma

  • Leave you short of breath

Long-term risks are similar to tobacco smoking and can include:

  • Lung problems

  • Increased risk of cancer

  • Raised heart rate and blood pressure

Cannabis can also:

  • Reduce sperm count

  • Affect ovulation

  • Increase risks during pregnancy, including low birth weight

Mental health risks

Cannabis can affect mental health, particularly with regular use or strong strains.

Risks include:

  • Anxiety and panic attacks

  • Low mood or depression

  • Poor motivation

  • Memory and learning problems

  • Sleep disturbance

Cannabis can trigger or worsen psychosis and conditions such as schizophrenia, especially if use starts in the teenage years or there is a family history of mental illness.

What cannabis is often mixed with

Some cannabis products may be mixed with:

  • Other substances to increase weight

  • Chemicals or pesticides used during growing

  • Tobacco, which adds nicotine addiction risks

Synthetic cannabinoids are sometimes sold as cannabis in vapes or sweets. These are much more dangerous and unpredictable.

Mixing cannabis with other substances

Mixing drugs always increases risk.

Driving while high doubles the risk of a serious or fatal crash. Mixing cannabis with alcohol makes you around 16 times more likely to crash.

Dependence and addiction

Cannabis can be addictive. Some people experience:

  • Cravings

  • Difficulty stopping

  • Ongoing use despite negative effects on health, work or relationships

Support can help people reduce or stop in a way that works for them.

Support from Wirral Ways

Wirral Ways offers free, confidential support for people affected by cannabis use, as well as support for families and carers.

We can help with:

  • One-to-one support

  • Support to reduce or stop using

  • Mental health and wellbeing support

  • Harm reduction advice

  • Support around housing, work and wider life issues

Support is tailored to your goals.

Worried about someone else?

If you are worried about a friend, partner or family member, you can contact us for advice and support. You do not need to handle this alone.

Get support

You can contact Wirral Ways to access support:

  • Self-refer online

  • Speak to a member of our team

  • Visit one of our services

Support is available, and help is there when you’re ready.

Last Updated on 4 February 2026