Is Weed a Hallucinogenic Drug?

For most people, smoking weed produces a mellow and relaxing high. This is why it might be a shock to learn that weed is actually considered a hallucinogenic drug by the government.

According to the Controlled Substances Act, there are five different classes of drugs – depressants, narcotics, stimulants, anabolic steroids, and hallucinogens. Marijuana is classified as a hallucinogen, along with other more potent drugs like LSD and peyote.

However, in order to truly understand marijuana’s classification as a hallucinogenic drug, it’s first important to understand what is meant by hallucinogenic drug and how weed affects your body.

What Is a Hallucinogenic Drug?

By definition, a hallucinogenic drug is any substance that can produce visual or auditory hallucinations and distort your sense of reality. All hallucinogenic drugs can also affect thought and mood, making people feel like they are in a dream (or in some cases, a nightmare).

While there are natural hallucinogenic drugs like weed or mushrooms, there are also man-made ones like LSD or PCP.

Scientists believe that hallucinogenic drugs work because they disrupt communication in your brain. They prevent your neurotransmitter system from relaying messages to areas that control sensory perception, mood, hunger, sleep, sexual behavior, body temperature, and control of muscles.

Overall, this means that a person on these drugs might have a number of symptoms, such as:

Marijuana use can cause a change in sense of time.

nausea
increased heart rate
dry mouth
problems sleeping
change in sense of time
changes in mood
feeling uncoordinated
changes in appetite

Want to learn more about hallucinogenic drugs and how they work? Simply give us a call at 800-411-9312 (Who Answers?) to speak with a specialist.

Hallucinogenic Effects of Weed

As you might now be able to recognize, marijuana actually shares many of the same effects as other hallucinogenic drugs. Weed also causes users to feel a sense of euphoria and relaxation, as well as changes in sensory perception. Other similar symptoms that weed has include:

change in sense of time
increased appetite
anxiety or fear
dry mouth
impaired coordination and motor skills

Generally, taking a small dose of marijuana will result in mild, intoxicating effects. However, if you increase your dose or try eating marijuana, it can produce the above effects on a heightened scale.

In some cases, marijuana can even include acute psychosis, especially in people who are already suffering from a psychiatric disease.

Just like other hallucinogenic drugs, marijuana is not addictive. However, over time, you can build up a tolerance, meaning you will need to consume more and more just to get the same high.

Additionally, heavy marijuana use on a long-term basis can result in problems with memory and perception, just like other hallucinogens.

How Weed Differs From Other Hallucinogenic Drugs

However, there are some things that set weed apart from other hallucinogens.

The main difference between weed and other psychoactive drugs is its active component. Most hallucinogens contain nitrogen and belong to one of the classes of alkaloids.

Weed, on the other hand, has the active component deltra-trans-tetrahydroicannabinol, also known as THC.

As you can see, the evidence is pretty clear that weed is actually a hallucinogenic drug. Remember, if you get high on weed and feel like you can’t deal with your life at the moment, you can always call us at 800-411-9312 (Who Answers?) .

Our experts will guide you through your high and help you get the treatment you need to stay clean.