SKUNK HARM REDUCTION INFORMATION AND ADVICE

When combined, these two plants provide the best characteristics for artificial growing and THC content, which can range from 6% to 20%. 

The term 'Skunk' is often used to describe any leaf-based, strong-smelling herbal cannabis. For this booklet, we have used the name to refer to indoor farmed herbal cannabis, grown in the UK.

The Skunk harm reduction information and advice in this section of our website will raise awareness of the potential risks and enable you to make inforamed decisions

How common is Skunk?

Over the last decade, Skunk has become the most common type of cannabis in the UK and accounts for nearly 70% of all cannabis smoked.

Most of the Skunk used in this country has been grown on indoor farms, producing commercial quantities of plants, under artificial lights and soil-based pots. Less than 10% of Skunk is grown using the more advanced hydroponic growing systems, which grow plants in nutrient-rich water systems.

Skunk and Hash

The cannabis plant contains over 480 natural elements. Sixty of these elements which occur only in the cannabis plant and are called cannabinoids.

Of these, two elements, THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol) are the leading players.

THC gives you a feeling of euphoria and being high, while CBD causes drowsiness, and the 'can't be bothered moving' stoned feeling. THC also contributes to the feelings of paranoia and anxiety you can sometimes feel when smoking skunk. It is believed that CBD can act as a brake for the THC, and takes the edge of its effects. Skunk contains very low levels of CBD.

Although the evidence is unproven on CBD if you are having panic attacks or feeling edgy or anxious and are going to continue smoking cannabis try switching to resin (Hash) which has much higher levels of CBD.

How strong is Skunk?

'30 times stronger' and 'Mad Skunk' are some of the lurid headlines in the media concerning the potency of herbal cannabis and how much stronger it is today than in the past. 

According to a recent government report, the average potency for factory-farmed herbal cannabis in the UK was 15% an increase from 13.98% reported in 2004. Although there have been some samples reported which have been higher than this average, the thirty times stronger claim seems somewhat exaggerated.

Strength and potency are two different things. The term potency is typically used to describe the amount of THC, usually expressed as a percentage (by weight), within the resin which covers the cannabis flowers.

You could have high potency but very a small amount of resin on the plant which wouldn't give you a strong high, but a concentrated amount of resin with a low potency could be quite strong. So potency and strength, when used in relation to cannabis, can be misleading.

The strength of cannabis also varies depending on the strain or variety of the plant. It will be affected by how the plant is grown, the part used, and the way it's prepared for use and stored.

Are you using more cannabis than you used to? 

Are you developing a tolerance and need more to achieve the same effect?

Getting Moody?

If you don’t smoke your normal amount of cannabis are you irritable, feel a bit moody and have trouble sleeping?

Time and Stress?

Do you spend a lot  of  time getting hold of cannabis and recovering from its effects? Stressing out when your dealer doesn’t answer their phone straight away or doesn’t answer their door after the first knock?

Has your Life Changed?

Think about what you used to get up to before you started using cannabis. Do you still do them? If not, then maybe cannabis is taking their place.

Do you want to give up or cut down but can’t seem to get your head around it?

If two or three of these apply to you then maybe you should think about cutting down or stopping altogether.

Think about why you want to change your cannabis use

Put together a list of good and bad things about your cannabis use. 

You can refer to this during your moments of weakness to remind yourself why you decided to make changes in the first place.

Create a cannabis diary

Create a diary of how much you smoked in the last week or two. Write how much you spent, where you smoked and who with. It will help motivate you and identify high-risk situations.

Plan ahead

Tell your friends or family about what you are going to do. 

It will make it easier to refuse a joint when offered, and your friends and family may be more understanding when you are feeling a bit on edge and being a pain.

Think about high-risk situations

These are times when you may be tempted to go back to your old ways, this could be meeting your mates somewhere where you would all spark up, a programme you watch or even a piece of music you would normally listen to while you are stoned. During the first few days, it is probably best to avoid these situations.

Avoid the friends you usually smoke with for a while

 It will make it easier if you don't place temptation in your way.

Cannabis cravings and withdrawal symptoms

 How withdrawal symptoms affect you depend on how much you used to smoke and how long you have been smoking for, but these can include:

• irritability
• urges to smoke (cravings)
• anxiety
• feeling depressed
• feeling angry
• confusion

 these symptoms appear in the form of:

• sleep problems
• restlessness
• loss of appetite
• tremors
• sweating (mainly at night)

Symptoms start between one and three days after stopping cannabis and last for around two weeks. They are not going to harm you and are a positive sign that the body is adapting to being cannabis free.

Cravings will only last for a few minutes so put off the decision to smoke for say 10 minutes and go and do something else, maybe go for a walk or read a book or magazine. The urge will pass. Every time you get through a craving without giving in, it will get easier.

Start to cut down

It may help some people to cut down the amount of skunk they use before they stop altogether.

Delay the first smoke of the day, put less cannabis in each joint, or have fewer joints.

Getting on with it.

Deal with high-risk situations. Clear your flat of any cannabis paraphernalia, including skins, pipes, bongs, etc. Delete your dealers number from your phone.

Stay active

Doing something else will help take up space in your head that cannabis used to. 

•  Do something new
•  Start a new hobby or enrol on a course.
• Look after yourself

Stick to a healthy diet, try to get as much sleep as you can, drink plenty of water and try to get some exercise, this will help lower your stress levels.

Keep going

Depending on how long you have been smoking cannabis, you may not succeed at the first attempt. Don't beat yourself up if this happens. You haven't failed. You have just taken the first step. Try again - it will probably be a bit easier next time.

Possessing cannabis

The maximum penalty for possession of a Class B drug can be up to five years in prison and an unlimited fine.

Supplying cannabis

The maximum penalty for supplying a Class B drug can be 14 years’ imprisonment a fine or both.

If you are over 18

An ‘escalation’ penalty system for possession of the drug is used to decide the punishment for anyone caught in possession.

First offence:

Verbal ‘cannabis warning’ from the police.

Second offence:

Penalty Notice for Disorder (PND), resulting in an on-the-spot £80 fine.

Third offence:

Arrest, conditional caution or prosecution.

If you are under 18

Anyone under 18 years of age found in possession of cannabis will be taken to a police station where they may receive a reprimand, final warning or charge, depending on the seriousness of the offence.

This must be administered in the presence of an appropriate adult. If you are caught with cannabis in Scotland you’ll be arrested and reported to the Procurator Fiscal, who will decide if criminal proceedings should be taken or not.

Growing Cannabis

People growing a small number of plants can often be charged with possession, supply and production and if convicted could be looking at a short prison sentence, while commercial growers could face even longer inside.

Indoor growing systems can be detected quite easily from the thermal camera of a police helicopter and the large electricity bills could easily land you in trouble.

Drug Driving

Some people think that cannabis is a ‘safer substitute’ than drinking alcohol, but it can cause concentration to wander, which can affect reaction times. It can also cause paranoia, drowsiness, distorted perception and a sense of disorientation - all of which could cause you to lose control at the wheel.

Even though the effects of cannabis fade after a matter of hours, it can be detected in your body for up to four weeks. In theory, this can compromise the driver if they’re tested positive, even if their driving wasn’t adversely affected at the time.

A criminal record can affect your future employment and travel

A criminal record can be a real problem at home, college, work, and in later life. Even convictions that are supposed to be ‘spent’ (which means that you do not have to declare it when asked in relation to travel or work) could still show up.

There are also lots of jobs which require an ‘enhanced check’ such as teacher, taxi driver, soldier etc. Other countries will have their own laws on drug convictions and these could cause your travel problems.