AN alarming trend has emerged on social media where thousands of young girls upload pictures and videos of themselves seemingly smoking pot and boasting about it using hashtags #prettypotheads, #girlswhosmokeweed, #gangagirls and #girlsgoneweed.

The #prettypotheads hashtag today returned more than 300,000 posts from all over the world, including Australia, on Instagram.

Some social media users posted semi-naked photographs of themselves holding marijuana in an apparent attempt to glamorise their drug use with corresponding hashtags #bongbeauties, #cannabiscuties and #ladiesofcannabis attached to the posts.

One woman who declared she was an avid pot smoker was pictured sucking on a particularly large, glass bong and captioned the photo:

“Time to get baked beauties!”

Others posed with drugs in one hand and children in the other.

One image showed a glass bong pushed to the face of a live guinea pig.

The images and footage are accessible to anyone who searches for them.

A large portion of the posts appeared to come from the USA and Australia.

The sale and possession of marijuana is illegal in Australia, but is now legal in four US States.

Marijuana: Heavy Users Risk Changes to Brain A new study finds that heavy marijuana use by adults could have long-term effects on the brain. What kinds of effects? WSJ's Jason Bellini has #TheShortAnswer.

Several women who are listed as residing in New South Wales could be seen on Instagram packing a bong with what appeared to be cannabis, lighting the drugs and inhaling the smoke.

Many posts featured captions that boasted about their drug use.

“I’m a stoner,” one wrote.

Another wrote: “Love bong rips, even when sick lol.”

“After a long weekend, this is much needed,” another wrote alongside a video of herself smoking the drug.

State Crime Command’s Drug Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent Tony Cooke said

“generally speaking, the images don’t establish sufficient information to commence an investigation”.

“However, if there is sufficient evidence posted online of anyone committing a crime, police will take action,” Supt Cooke said.

“I would encourage the community to make use of the online reporting application through Crime Stoppers.”

Supt Cooke said people taking — or pretending to take — illegal drugs were not impressing anyone.

“By posting images and videos which purport to depict illegal activity, you are not only putting your safety at risk, you are potentially jeopardising your future,” he said.

“When you post something online, it’s there for everyone to see forever, this includes your family, police, teachers, or even a future employer.

“If you take drugs, you are gambling with your life.”

Instagram’s community guidelines state:

“ ... buying or selling illegal or prescription drugs (even if it’s legal in your region), as well as promoting recreational drug use is also not allowed.”

The site encourages users to report any posts that violate its guidelines.

“If you see something that you think may violate our guidelines, please help us by using our built-in reporting option,” the website states.

“We have a global team that reviews these reports and works as quickly as possible to remove content that doesn’t meet our guidelines.

“Even if you or someone you know doesn’t have an Instagram account, you can still file a report.

“When you complete the report, try to provide as much information as possible, such as links, usernames, and descriptions of the content, so we can find and review the content quickly.”