title: Action of cannabidiol on the anxiety and other effects produced by delta 9-THC in normal subjects.
abstract: The object of the experiment was to verify whether cannabidiol (CBD) reduces the anxiety provoked by delta 9-THC in normal volunteers, and whether this effect occurs by a general block of the action of delta 9-THC or by a specific anxiolytic effect. Appropriate measurements and scales were utilized and the eight volunteers received, the following treatments in a double-blind procedure: 0.5 mg/kg delta 9-THC, 1 mg/kg CBD, a mixture containing 0.5 mg/kg delta 9-THC and 1 mg/kg CBD and placebo and diazepam (10 mg) as controls. Each volunteer received the treatments in a different sequence. It was verified that CBD blocks the anxiety provoked by delta 9-THC, however this effect also extended to marihuana-like effects and to other subjective alterations induced by delta 9-THC. This antagonism does not appear to be caused by a general block of delta 9-THC effects, since no change was detected in the pulse-rate measurements. Several further effects were observed typical of CBD and of an opposite nature to those of delta 9-THC. These results suggest that the effects of CBD, as opposed to those of delta 9-THC, might be involved in the antagonism of effects between the two cannabinoids.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D002185:Cannabidiol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011674:Pulse / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D002186:Cannabinoids; D002185:Cannabidiol; D013759:Dronabinol