Cognitive and subjective dose-response effects of acute oral Delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in infrequent cannabis users.
BACKGROUND
Although some aspects of memory functions are known to be acutely impaired by delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta(9)-THC; the main active constituent of marijuana), effects on other aspects of memory are not known and the time course of functional impairments is unclear.


OBJECTIVE
The present study aimed to detail the acute and residual cognitive effects of delta(9)-THC in infrequent cannabis users.


METHODS
A balanced, double-blind cross-over design was used to compare the effects of 7.5 mg and 15 mg delta(9)-THC with matched placebo in 15 male volunteers. Participants were assessed pre and 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 24 and 48 h post-drug.


RESULTS
Delta(9)-THC 15 mg impaired performance on two explicit memory tasks at the time of peak plasma concentration (2 h post-drug). At the same time point, performance on an implicit memory task was preserved intact. The higher dose of delta(9)-THC resulted in no learning whatsoever occurring over a three-trial selective reminding task at 2 h. Working memory was generally unaffected by delta(9)-THC. In several tasks, delta(9)-THC increased both speed and error rates, reflecting "riskier" speed-accuracy trade-offs. Subjective effects were also most marked at 2 h but often persisted longer, with participants rating themselves as "stoned" for 8 h. Participants experienced a strong drug effect, liked this effect and, until 4 h, wanted more oral delta(9)-THC. No effects of delta(9)-THC were found 24 or 48 h following ingestion indicating that the residual effects of oral delta(9)-THC are minimal.


CONCLUSIONS
These data demonstrate that oral delta(9)-THC impairs episodic memory and learning in a dose-dependent manner whilst sparing perceptual priming and working memory.
Curran
H Valerie
HV
Psychopharmacology Laboratories, Clinical Health Psychology, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1 6BT, UK. v.curran@ucl.ac.uk
Brignell
Catherine
C
Fletcher
Sally
S
Middleton
Paul
P
Henry
John
J
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008385:Marijuana Smoking / Q000523:psychology*; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
D013759:Dronabinol