title: Terminal elimination plasma half-life of delta 1-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta 1-THC) in heavy users of marijuana.
abstract: The terminal elimination half-life of delta 1-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta 1-THC) was investigated in eight men who were heavy users of marijuana. A stable isotope assay, following smoking deuterium-labeled delta 1-THC, was used to determine plasma concentrations. In two additional users plasma levels were followed after administration of unlabeled delta 1-THC. The subjects were asked to smoke a "loading dose" of 56 mg delta 1-THC during two days and then abstain from all marijuana use for 4 weeks. The pharmacokinetic behavior was consistent with a multicompartment model with a mean plasma elimination half-life of delta 1-THC of 4.3 days when concentrations were followed for 10-15 days after smoking. In the two subjects with detectable plasma levels during 4 weeks, half-lives of 9.6 and 12.6 days was obtained.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, Uppsala University, Sweden.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Johansson
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Halldin
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Agurell
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Hollister
authors.forename: H K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Gillespie
mesh_terms: D013759:Dronabinol / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000652:urine; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D008385:Marijuana Smoking / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D013759:Dronabinol