Hashish

Hashish
Hashish shown next to a 19 mm (¾") diameter U.S. penny for scale.
Source plant(s)Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, Cannabis ruderalis
Part(s) of plantTrichome
Geographic originSouth Asia, Indian Subcontinent[1]
Active ingredientsTetrahydrocannabinol, cannabidiol, cannabinol, tetrahydrocannabivarin
Legal status
1.5 grams (1/16 oz) pressed hashish

Hashish (Arabic: حشيش, (IPA: [ħæʃiːʃ])), commonly shortened to hash,[citation needed] is an oleoresin made by compressing and processing parts of the cannabis plant, typically focusing on flowering buds (female flowers) containing the most trichomes.[2][3] It is consumed as a psychoactive drug by smoking, typically in a pipe, bong, vaporizer or joint, or via oral ingestion. Hashish has a long history of usage in countries such as Afghanistan, Morocco, Egypt, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Iran, and Lebanon.[4] Hashish consumption is also popular in Europe. In the United States, dried flowers or concentrates are more popular, though hash has seen a rise in popularity following changes in law.[5][6] Like many recreational drugs, multiple synonyms and alternative names for hashish exist, and vary greatly depending on the country and native language.[7]

Hashish is a cannabis concentrate product composed of compressed or purified preparations of stalked resin glands, called trichomes, from the plant. It is defined by the 1961 UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs (Schedule I and IV) as "the separated resin, whether crude or purified, obtained from the cannabis plant". The resin contains ingredients such as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and other cannabinoids—but often in higher concentrations than the unsifted or unprocessed cannabis flower.[8] Purities of confiscated hashish in Europe (2011) range between 3% and 15%. Between 2000 and 2005, the percentage of hashish in cannabis end product seizures was at 18%.[2] With the strength of unprocessed cannabis flowers having increased greatly in recent years—with flowers containing upwards of 25% THC by weight—the strength of hashish produced today and in the future is likely to be far more potent than in these older records.[9][10]

The consistency and appearance of hashish vary depending on the process and amount of leftover plant material (e.g. chlorophyll). It is typically solid, though its consistency ranges from brittle to malleable. It is most commonly light or dark brown in color, though may appear transparent, yellow, black, or red.[11]

  1. ^ Mahmoud A. ElSohly (2007). Marijuana and the Cannabinoids. Springer. p. 8. ISBN 978-1-59259-947-9. Archived from the original on 2023-01-15. Retrieved 2016-08-02.
  2. ^ a b EMCDDA (2008). "A cannabis reader: global issues and local experiences". Monograph Series. 8 (1). Archived from the original on 2019-04-04. Retrieved 2017-06-29. European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, Lisbon, doi:10.2810/13807
  3. ^ "What is Hash?". Leafly. 2020-06-25. Archived from the original on 2020-10-09. Retrieved 2020-10-05.
  4. ^ "The History Of Hashish". druglibrary.org. Archived from the original on 2020-08-11. Retrieved 2020-10-05.
  5. ^ "Is Old-School Hashish Going Extinct in America?". MERRY JANE. Archived from the original on 2020-10-09. Retrieved 2020-10-05.
  6. ^ "How to Smoke Hash - Best Way Quick Guide". Cannabismo. 2019-09-16. Archived from the original on 2020-09-30. Retrieved 2020-10-05.
  7. ^ "Hashish". drugs.com. Archived from the original on 26 April 2019. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  8. ^ Russo, Ethan. Cannabis and Cannabinoids: Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutic Potential, p. 34 (Routledge 2013).
  9. ^ ElSohly, Mahmoud A.; Mehmedic, Zlatko; Foster, Susan; Gon, Chandrani; Chandra, Suman; Church, James C. (2016-04-01). "Changes in Cannabis Potency over the Last Two Decades (1995-2014) - Analysis of Current Data in the United States". Biological Psychiatry. 79 (7): 613–619. doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2016.01.004. ISSN 0006-3223. PMC 4987131. PMID 26903403.
  10. ^ "Highly Potent Weed Has Swept The Market, Raising Concerns About Health Risks". NPR.org. Archived from the original on 2020-10-08. Retrieved 2020-10-05.
  11. ^ "Guide To The Different Types Of Hashish". www.druglibrary.org. Archived from the original on 2014-01-09. Retrieved 2014-01-09.