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Marijuana. Marijuana cigarette (called a joint or reefer) lying in an ashtray. Marijuana is made from the dried leaves and flowering tops of the hemp plant, Cannabis sativa. Cannabis plants contain a mood-altering (psychoactive) drug, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Marijuana can be smoked or eaten and induces an initial feeling of stimulation followed by sedation and pleasant tranquility. Users may also have altered perceptions of time and space, heightened perception and unusual reasoning patterns. Negative effects can include confusion and anxiety attacks. Frequent marijuana users may develop a psychological dependence on the drug. (KEYSTONE/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/CORDELIA MOLLOY)