Cannabis and derivativesWhat are hashish and bango? And is “natural” really safe?

1What is cannabis and its derivatives?

Cannabis is a plant people have known for thousands of years and used for fibers and ropes, but today it is known mainly as the most widely used drug in the world and in Egypt.

The flower tops of the cannabis plant secrete a sticky resinous substance rich in compounds called cannabinoids. The two most important are THC, which is responsible for the feeling of being high and for most of the psychological harms, and CBD, which does not cause a high and appears to soften some of THC's effects. The ratio of the two varies widely from one strain to another, and the effect and risk vary with it.

When we say “cannabis and its derivatives,” we mean every product taken from the plant itself: the pressed resin known in Egypt as hashish, the dried leaves and flower tops known as bango or marijuana, as well as oils, concentrates and high-potency edibles common in other countries. What is called “synthetic hashish” does not belong to this family at all, as we explain below.

The market also uses the name hydro for high-potency cannabis strains; the higher the concentration of the active substance, the greater the chances of severe anxiety, psychosis and dependence, even if the product looks “natural.”

2How does THC affect the brain? The endocannabinoid system

The human body has a natural system called the endocannabinoid system, which releases substances similar in structure to THC and acts on receptors spread through the brain and body to regulate mood, memory, appetite, sleep, pain sensation and movement. These natural substances are released in measured amounts and break down quickly.

When THC enters the body, it mimics these substances and binds to the same receptors, but for longer and in a way the body does not regulate, which throws this delicate system off balance. Because THC is a partial agonist of the receptors, there is a ceiling on how strong its effect can be, which is a key point for understanding the difference between it and synthetic substances.

3Types of cannabis and its derivatives

Hashish and bango each have a full guide and separate pages on harms, symptoms and detection. Here is a short card for each:

4What is the difference between hashish and bango?

Hashish and bango come from the same plant and contain the same active substance; the main difference is the part used and the level of concentration. So they share addiction, withdrawal and treatment, while differing in form and average strength:

Concentration figures are from the European Union Drugs Agency, and there are no comparable published figures for the Egyptian market. The difference in averages does not mean bango is “mild”; its strong strains approach hashish.

5The difference between hashish and bango in effect and danger: which is more dangerous?

After learning the difference between hashish and bango in form and source, the question families ask most remains: which is more dangerous? The more accurate answer is that the danger is not determined by the name so much as by the THC concentration in the strain, the frequency of use, the age of starting, and what may be mixed into the substance.

In a British study published in the journal Psychological Medicine, frequent use of a high-potency type, which at the time was a strong herbal cannabis called “skunk,” was linked to more severe dependence, especially in younger people, and to clearer effects on memory and suspicion and paranoia. Resin and the weaker herbal cannabis of that time were not linked to dependence to the same degree. In other words, “herbal” is not necessarily milder and “resin” is not necessarily stronger; what matters is the strength of the strain itself.

Because the active substance is the same, the hashish withdrawal symptoms and the plan for hashish addiction treatment apply to bango as well, and you will find the harms of each in harms of hashish and harms of bango.

6Is cannabis today stronger than cannabis in the past?

Yes, and the difference is large. European Union Drugs Agency data show that the average THC content of cannabis resin seized in Europe roughly doubled over ten years. Hybrid strains very high in THC and low in CBD have also appeared, and these are the strains research links to a higher risk to mental health.

What that means for families is that the picture the parents' generation has of “a hashish cigarette at an evening get-together” no longer resembles reality. A large European study published in The Lancet Psychiatry found that daily use of high-potency cannabis is linked to a marked rise in the likelihood of psychosis.

7Natural cannabis and synthetic cannabis: what is the real difference?

This is the most important paragraph on the page, because confusing the two is very common within families and among young people. The word “hashish” in the name “synthetic hashish” suggests it is a type of cannabis, but in truth synthetic cannabis such as Strox and Voodoo contains neither the cannabis plant nor THC; it contains manufactured chemicals sprayed onto dried herbs.

8Is cannabis “natural, therefore safe”? Myths and facts

The wide spread of cannabis has surrounded it with many ideas that young people pass around as facts, and this normalization is one of the main reasons people delay seeking treatment:

9What are the shared risks of cannabis and its derivatives?

• Impaired memory and concentration, with a bigger effect on the brain, which is still developing in adolescence.
• Anxiety and panic attacks, and a higher risk of psychosis in people who are predisposed, especially with strong strains.
• Dependence and addiction, and withdrawal symptoms such as irritability, insomnia and loss of appetite.
• Cannabis hyperemesis syndrome in some long-term users: repeated bouts of vomiting with frequent hot showers.
• Harm to the respiratory system from smoking, and the danger of driving under the influence.
• The risk of poisoning in children if they get hold of edible products containing cannabis.

The details differ from one substance to another, so we have given one page to the harms of hashish and another to the harms of bango.

10Cannabis in Egypt: prevalence and the law

Hashish is the most widely used drug in Egypt, and cannabis is the most widely used drug in the world by a wide margin, according to the World Health Organization and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. It appears in some works of art and songs in a lighthearted or ordinary way, which dulls the sense of its danger.

Legally, hashish and bango are prohibited substances in Egypt under Law No. 182 of 1960 on drug control, growing the cannabis plant is banned, and there is no licensed medical use of hashish in Egypt. Legalizing cannabis in some countries changes nothing about its legal status here or about its effect on the brain. This is general awareness information, not legal advice.

11Withdrawal, treatment and detection: what you need to know

Withdrawal from hashish and bango is not usually life-threatening, but it is real and unpleasant: irritability, insomnia, disturbing dreams, loss of appetite and cravings, with details on the page about hashish and bango withdrawal symptoms. Treatment relies mainly on behavioral psychotherapy and treating any co-occurring anxiety or depression, as in hashish and bango addiction treatment.

As for detection, because THC dissolves in fat and is stored in body tissues, its by-products may stay in the urine longer in regular users than in someone who used once; approximate details are on the page about how long hashish stays in the body.

12How can families protect their children from cannabis?

Many young people start cannabis in their teens out of curiosity and peer pressure, and the earlier the start, the greater the risk of addiction and of effects on studies and mental health. An early, calm conversation helps more than scare tactics or humiliating surveillance:

1. Talk with your children with accurate information about cannabis, acknowledge that some people use it with no obvious problem, then explain why the risk is different at their age.
2. Explain clearly that “synthetic hashish” is not hashish, that it is far more dangerous, and that a previous experience does not protect against the next one.
3. Watch for sudden changes compared with your child's usual self: falling grades, changing friends, frequent late nights, withdrawal, and red eyes.
4. If you find suspicious herbs or pieces, do not react with violence; choose a calm time to talk and seek specialist advice.
5. Pay attention to anxiety and depression in a teenager, as many turn to cannabis to calm suffering they have not spoken about.