Highlights
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- Cannabis refers to the dried leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds of the cannabis plant. The plant has many different chemical compounds, including tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which has intoxicating—mind altering—effects.
- Cannabis products with THC can cause changes in mood, thoughts, and perceptions of reality. These products can also cause harmful health effects on the brain and other parts of the body. In recent years, there have been big increases in the variety of cannabis products and how much THC they have, as well as a greater variety of ways people can consume them. Unless mentioned otherwise, the information on this webpage is about cannabis products with THC.
- NIDA funds research on the health effects of cannabis products, including impacts on the developing brain and on mental health. The institute also supports research on prevention and treatments for cannabis use disorder, the potential therapeutic uses of cannabis, and the public health impacts of cannabis policies.
Research Topics
Related Topic Pages
Synthetic CannabinoidsExpand All
What is cannabis?
How do people use cannabis?
Are cannabis products getting stronger?
What is Delta-8 THC?
What is CBD?
What are synthetic cannabinoids?
Cannabis has a wide variety of effects
What are the short-term health effects of cannabis use?
What are the long-term health risks of cannabis use?
What is the relationship between cannabis use and mental health?
What is cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome?
What are the effects of secondhand exposure from cannabis smoke or vapor?
Does cannabis use during pregnancy affect a developing baby?
Is cannabis addictive?
Can people have cannabis withdrawal symptoms?
Are there treatments for cannabis use disorder?
Is cannabis a “gateway” drug?
Does cannabis use affect driving?
How does cannabis use impact adolescents?
How does cannabis use impact older adults?
Are some cannabis products safe and effective medicines?
How is NIDA researching cannabis?
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Read More About Cannabis
- Read more about cannabis on the CDC web site.
- Learn more about the regulation of products containing cannabis or cannabis-derived compounds from the FDA.
- Find information and statistics on drug-impaired driving from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- Find basic cannabis information from MedlinePlus, a service of the National Library of Medicine.