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EFFECTS OF CANNABIS, even more than of otherhallucinogens, are highly variable from person to personand from one plant strain to another. This variabilitycomes mainly from the unstable character of someof the constituents. Over a period of time, for example,the inactive cannabidiolic acid converts to active tetrahydrocannabinolsand eventually to inactive cannabinol,such chemical changes usually taking place more rapidlyin tropical than in cooler climates. Material from plantsof different ages may thus vary in narcotic effect.The principal narcotic effect is euphoria. The plantis sometimes not classified as hallucinogenic, and it istrue that its characteristics are not typically psychotomimetic.Everything from a mild sense of ease andwell-being to fantastic dreams and visual and auditoryhallucinations are reported. Beautiful sights, wonderfulmusic, and aberrations of sound often entrance themind; bizarre adventures to fill a century take place ina matter of minutes.Soon after taking the drug, a subject may find himselfin a dreamy state of altered consciousness. Normalthought is interrupted, and ideas are sometimes plenti-In many parts of Asia theuse of cannabis preparationsis both socially and legallyacceptable. In predominantlyMoslem countries, cannabis isusually smoked in water pipes,sometimes called hookahs.The illustration shows anAfghani using one of themany kinds of water pipesseen in Asia.