BangoWhat is marijuana, and how does it differ from hashish and Strox?

13What is bango?

Bango is the common name in Egypt for the herbal form of the cannabis plant: leaves and flowering tops that are dried and crumbled, appearing as green or brownish herbs, sometimes mixed with seeds and small stems.

In most countries this form is known as marijuana, while the name hashish is given to the resin extracted from the same plant. Both forms contain THC, the compound responsible for the psychoactive effect, but in different concentrations and proportions.

In popular memory, bango has been seen as the “poor man’s drug” or a weaker version of hashish, but that picture is no longer accurate. Some recently cultivated strains are very potent, and the illicit market sometimes mixes the herbs with far more dangerous substances.

14Where does bango come from?

The cannabis plant grows quickly and tolerates a wide range of climates, which is why it is grown illegally in many parts of the world, including remote areas inside Egypt, in addition to what is smuggled in. The highest levels of THC are concentrated in the flowering tops of the female plant, while the large leaves and stems contain lower levels.

15Are marijuana, bango and skunk different names for the same thing?

Marijuana and bango are two names for the herbal form of cannabis. “Skunk,” on the other hand, is a name given to hybrid strains that are high in THC and very low in CBD. British health sources say this type carries a greater risk to mental health, because CBD, which may ease anxiety and suspicion, is almost absent from it. A person who uses it cannot tell which strain they have just by looking.

16What does bango do in the brain?

When bango is smoked, THC passes from the lungs into the blood and then to the brain within minutes, where it binds to cannabinoid receptors that regulate memory, mood, appetite and movement. The result is relaxation or laughter in some people, and anxiety and tension in others, along with slowed reactions and a distorted sense of time.

With repeated use, the brain reduces its sensitivity to this substance, so the person needs more and feels distress when it is not available. This is the biological beginning of dependence, and it is the same for bango and hashish.

17What is the difference between bango and hashish?

The figures above come from European Union Drugs Agency data. There are no comparable published figures for the Egyptian market, but they show that a lower average does not make bango “safe”; its strong strains come close to hashish or exceed it. For more, see the hashish guide.

18Is bango less addictive because it is a “natural herb”?

This belief rests on two mistaken ideas: that anything plant-based is safe, and that bango is a diluted version of hashish. But addiction is determined by the active ingredient and the pattern of use, not by the form of the substance. A person who smokes bango daily is exposed to THC regularly, just like someone who uses hashish, and can develop the same tolerance, dependence and withdrawal symptoms.

In fact, the feeling that bango is “mild” can lead a person to use more of it and more often, and delay admitting that there is a problem. That is why clinics see severe cannabis use disorder in people who have used nothing but bango.

19What is the difference between bango and industrial hemp grown for fiber?

In some countries, varieties of the cannabis plant containing only very small amounts of THC are grown to produce fiber, fabric, rope and edible oils from the seeds, and are sometimes called industrial hemp. These varieties differ in composition from the bango used for intoxication, and their existence does not mean bango is “legitimate” or safe. Growing cannabis of every variety is also banned in Egypt.

20Is bango the same as Strox?

No, and confusing the two is dangerous. Strox and Voodoo are manufactured chemicals called synthetic cannabinoids, sprayed onto worthless dry herbs, so that anyone who sees them assumes they are a drug plant similar to bango. The European Union Drugs Agency explains that these substances bind to cannabinoid receptors much more strongly than THC, and that their composition and quantity differ from one package to the next.

21Who is most at risk from bango?

22Bango under Egyptian law

Bango is a prohibited substance in Egypt under Law No. 182 of 1960 on drug control, and the law also bans growing the cannabis plant. On the other side, the Fund for Drug Control and Treatment of Addiction offers free, confidential treatment to anyone who asks for it through hotline 16023.

This is general educational information and not legal advice.

23You found dried herbs in your son’s room: what do you do?

• Do not act in a moment of anger; take time to calm down and think about how to approach the conversation.
• Do not assume what the substance is; it may be bango or herbs sprayed with a synthetic chemical, and the difference matters medically.
• Talk to him about your concern for his health before talking about punishment.
• Ask how often he uses and since when, and about any strange symptoms he has experienced.
• If he shows signs of psychosis, seizures or loss of consciousness, call emergency services immediately.
• Seek a confidential specialist consultation for assessment and a plan suited to his age and condition.

24Bango Guide: Everything You Need to Know

We have gathered everything about bango into 5 pages, each answering one question in detail. Choose what you are looking for: