Tolerability and effects of oral Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol in older adolescents with marijuana use disorders.
OBJECTIVE
The tolerability and effects of oral Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) have been previously investigated in adult marijuana abusers. However, no studies have included adolescent participants. This double-blind laboratory study investigated the tolerability and effects of oral THC in a group of older adolescents with marijuana use disorders.


METHODS
Eight participants (ages 16-21 years), smoking an average of 5.2 days/week and 2.5 "joints"/day, completed this four-session study, during which they received one of four oral THC doses (0, 2.5, 5, 10 mg) each session. Administration of oral THC doses was counterbalanced across participants. During each session, participants completed the Digit-Symbol Substitution Task (DSST) and subjective-effect ratings at baseline and 1, 2, and 3 h after oral THC administration.


RESULTS
Oral THC (5 mg and 10 mg) increased several "positive" subjective-effect ratings (e.g., "Good Drug Effect"), while producing no significant effects on cardiovascular measures, DSST performance, or "negative" subjective-effect ratings.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that oral THC was well tolerated and suggest further study of this medication in adolescent marijuana abusers.
Gray
Kevin M
KM
Youth Division, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, 67 President Street, P.O. Box 250861, Charleston, South Carolina 29425, USA. graykm@musc.edu
Hart
Carl L
CL
Christie
Douglas K
DK
Upadhyaya
Himanshu P
HP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000187:drug effects; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005059:Euphoria / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006213:Hallucinogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects
D006213:Hallucinogens; D013759:Dronabinol