Editing Cannabis (section)

===Recreational use===
{{Main|Cannabis (drug)}}
[[File:Drug danger and dependence.svg|thumb|right|400px|Comparison of physical harm and dependence regarding various drugs<ref>{{cite web |url=http://web.cgu.edu/faculty/gabler/drug_toxicity.htm |title=Drug Toxicity |publisher=Web.cgu.edu |access-date=17 February 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080325151357/http://web.cgu.edu/faculty/gabler/drug_toxicity.htm |archive-date=25 March 2008}}</ref>]]
[[File:Marijuana-Cannabis-Weed-Bud-Gram.jpg|thumb|A dried bud, typical of what is sold for recreational use|alt=]]

Cannabis is a popular recreational drug around the world, only behind alcohol, caffeine, and tobacco. In the U.S. alone, it is believed that over 100 million Americans have tried cannabis, with 25 million Americans having used it within the past year.{{when|date=February 2017}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=5442|title=Introduction|publisher=NORML|access-date=17 February 2011|archive-date=11 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100211010755/http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=5442|url-status=dead}}</ref> As a drug it usually comes in the form of dried marijuana, [[hashish]], or various extracts collectively known as [[hash oil|hashish oil]].<ref name="erowid" />

Normal cognition is restored after approximately three hours for larger doses via a [[One hitter (smoking)|smoking pipe]], [[bong]] or [[vaporizer (cannabis)|vaporizer]].<ref name="erowid.org">{{cite web|author=Cannabis|url=http://www.erowid.org/plants/cannabis/cannabis_effects.shtml|title=Erowid Cannabis (Marijuana) Vault : Effects|publisher=Erowid.org|access-date=17 February 2011|archive-date=19 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819023850/https://www.erowid.org/plants/cannabis/cannabis_effects.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> However, if a large amount is taken orally the effects may last much longer. After 24 hours to a few days, minuscule psychoactive effects may be felt, depending on dosage, frequency and tolerance to the drug.

Cannabidiol (CBD), which has no intoxicating effects by itself<ref name="pmid19204413" /> (although sometimes showing a small stimulant effect, similar to [[caffeine]]),<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Block RI, Erwin WJ, Farinpour R, Braverman K | title = Sedative, stimulant, and other subjective effects of marijuana: relationships to smoking techniques | journal = Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior | volume = 59 | issue = 2 | pages = 405–412 | date = February 1998 | pmid = 9476988 | doi = 10.1016/S0091-3057(97)00453-X | s2cid = 29421694 }}</ref> is thought to reduce the anxiety-inducing effects of high doses of THC,<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Zuardi AW, Shirakawa I, Finkelfarb E, Karniol IG |year=1982 |title=Action of cannabidiol on the anxiety and other effects produced by delta 9-THC in normal subjects |journal=Psychopharmacology |volume=76 |issue=3 |pages=245–250 |doi=10.1007/BF00432554 |pmid=6285406 |s2cid=4842545}}</ref> particularly if administered orally prior to THC exposure.<ref name="pmid19124693">{{cite journal | vauthors = Fusar-Poli P, Crippa JA, Bhattacharyya S, Borgwardt SJ, Allen P, Martin-Santos R, Seal M, Surguladze SA, O'Carrol C, Atakan Z, Zuardi AW, McGuire PK | display-authors = 6 | title = Distinct effects of {delta}9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol on neural activation during emotional processing | journal = Archives of General Psychiatry | volume = 66 | issue = 1 | pages = 95–105 | date = January 2009 | pmid = 19124693 | doi = 10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2008.519 | doi-access = free }}</ref>

According to [[Delphi method|Delphic analysis]] by British researchers in 2007, cannabis has a lower risk factor for [[drug addiction|dependence]] compared to both nicotine and alcohol.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Nutt D, King LA, Saulsbury W, Blakemore C | title = Development of a rational scale to assess the harm of drugs of potential misuse | journal = Lancet | volume = 369 | issue = 9566 | pages = 1047–53 | date = March 2007 | pmid = 17382831 | doi = 10.1016/S0140-6736(07)60464-4 | s2cid = 5903121 }}</ref> However, everyday use of cannabis may be correlated with psychological [[Drug withdrawal|withdrawal symptoms]], such as irritability or insomnia,<ref name="erowid.org"/> and susceptibility to a [[panic attack]] may increase as levels of THC metabolites rise.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=7951|title=Marijuana Detection Times Influenced By Stress, Dieting|publisher=NORML|access-date=17 February 2011|archive-date=11 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110211054305/http://www.norml.org//index.cfm?Group_ID=7951|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://cannabis.net/panic-attacks/pd.html|title=Cannabis use and panic disorder|publisher=Cannabis.net|access-date=17 February 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110520100024/http://cannabis.net/panic-attacks/pd.html|archive-date=20 May 2011}}</ref> Cannabis withdrawal symptoms are typically mild and are not life-threatening.<ref name="drugpolicy.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.drugpolicy.org/marijuana/factsmyths/|title=Myths and Facts About Marijuana|publisher=Drugpolicy.org|access-date=17 February 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110216113749/http://www.drugpolicy.org/marijuana/factsmyths/|archive-date=16 February 2011}}</ref> Risk of adverse outcomes from cannabis use may be reduced by implementation of evidence-based education and intervention tools communicated to the public with practical regulation measures.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Fischer B, Russell C, Sabioni P, van den Brink W, Le Foll B, Hall W, Rehm J, Room R | display-authors = 6 | title = Lower-Risk Cannabis Use Guidelines: A Comprehensive Update of Evidence and Recommendations | journal = American Journal of Public Health | volume = 107 | issue = 8 | pages = e1–e12 | date = August 2017 | pmid = 28644037 | doi = 10.2105/AJPH.2017.303818 | pmc = 5508136 }}</ref>

In 2014 there were an estimated 182.5 million cannabis users worldwide (3.8% of the global population aged 15–64).<ref name="WDR2016">{{cite book |author=United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime |title=World Drug Report 2016 |date=May 2016 |isbn=978-92-1-057862-2 |location=Vienna, Austria |page=xiv, 43 |chapter=Statistical tables |access-date=1 August 2016 |chapter-url=http://www.unodc.org/doc/wdr2016/WORLD_DRUG_REPORT_2016_web.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160809143704/http://www.unodc.org/doc/wdr2016/WORLD_DRUG_REPORT_2016_web.pdf |archive-date=9 August 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> This percentage did not change significantly between 1998 and 2014.<ref name="WDR2016" />