title: The effects of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol on the dopamine system.
abstract: The effects of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis, are a pressing concern for global mental health. Patterns of cannabis use are changing drastically owing to legalization, the availability of synthetic analogues (commonly termed spice), cannavaping and an emphasis on the purported therapeutic effects of cannabis. Many of the reinforcing effects of THC are mediated by the dopamine system. Owing to the complexity of the cannabinoid-dopamine interactions that take place, there is conflicting evidence from human and animal studies concerning the effects of THC on the dopamine system. Acute THC administration causes increased dopamine release and neuron activity, whereas long-term use is associated with blunting of the dopamine system. Future research must examine the long-term and developmental dopaminergic effects of THC.
authors.affiliation: Psychiatric Imaging Group, Robert Steiner MR Unit, MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London W12 0NN, UK.|Psychiatric Imaging Group, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK.|Division of Psychiatry, University College London, 6th Floor, Maple House, 149 Tottenham Court Road, London WC1T 7NF, UK.|Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology &Neuroscience, Kings College London, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK.|Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit, Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
authors.forename: Michael A P
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bloomfield
authors.affiliation: Psychiatric Imaging Group, Robert Steiner MR Unit, MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London W12 0NN, UK.|Psychiatric Imaging Group, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK.|Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology &Neuroscience, Kings College London, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK.
authors.forename: Abhishekh H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Ashok
authors.affiliation: National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, 6001 Executive Boulevard, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-9561, USA.
authors.forename: Nora D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Volkow
authors.affiliation: Psychiatric Imaging Group, Robert Steiner MR Unit, MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London W12 0NN, UK.|Psychiatric Imaging Group, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK.|Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology &Neuroscience, Kings College London, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK.
authors.forename: Oliver D
authors.initials: OD
authors.lastname: Howes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D048430:Cell Shape / Q000187:drug effects; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D059290:Dopaminergic Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D057907:Post-Synaptic Density / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D017729:Presynaptic Terminals / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D043884:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D043884:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1; D013759:Dronabinol; D004298:Dopamine