Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews
August 20, 2026
Lucy Chester, Heidar Sharafi, Amani Mahroug et al.
Research on the pharmacokinetic influence of cannabidiol (CBD) on delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) has produced equivocal results. We conducted a systematic search following PRISMA guidelines (last search: 24th November 2025, PROSPERO: CRD42023480695). Included studies were acute dosing trials that administered a) a single, fixed dose of THC and b) a matched dose of THC co-administered with...
Journal of Psychopharmacology
July 15, 2026
Lucy Chester, François-Olivier Hebert, Pamela Lachance-Touchette et al.
BACKGROUND Cannabidiol (CBD) is widely consumed in low-dose products. However, evidence for its psychotropic effects at non-clinical doses is sparse and inconsistent. AIMS To characterise the acute behavioural effects of low-dose synthetic CBD in healthy volunteers. We hypothesised that 200 mg of CBD would produce a greater peak pleasant drug effect than a placebo. METHODS In a triple-blind,...
Addiction
February 2024
Dominic Oliver, Amir Englund, Edward Chesney et al.
To test how attentional bias and explicit liking are influenced by delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and whether these effects are moderated by cannabidiol (CBD). Double-blind, randomised, within-subjects cross-over study. NIHR Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility at King's College Hospital, London, United Kingdom. Forty-six infrequent cannabis users (cannabis use <1 per week). Across...
Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences
April 18, 2023
Lucy Chester, Lucia Valmaggia, Matthew J. Kempton et al.
Evidence for case–control studies suggests that cannabis use is a risk factor for the development of psychosis. However, there have been limited prospective studies and the direction of this association remains controversial. The primary aim of the present study was to examine the association between cannabis use and the incidence of psychotic disorders in people at clinical high risk of...
Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research
December 9, 2022
Lucy Chester, Amir Englund, Edward Chesney et al.
20 citations
Background: The effects of cannabis are thought to be mediated by interactions between its constituents and the endocannabinoid system. Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) binds to central cannabinoid receptors, while cannabidiol (CBD) may influence endocannabinoid function without directly acting on cannabinoid receptors. We examined the effects of THC coadministered with different doses of CBD...
Neuropsychopharmacology
November 16, 2022
Amir Englund, D. Oliver, Edward Chesney et al.
As countries adopt more permissive cannabis policies, it is increasingly important to identify strategies that can reduce the harmful effects of cannabis use. This study aimed to determine if increasing the CBD content of cannabis can reduce its harmful effects. Forty-six healthy, infrequent cannabis users participated in a double-blind, within-subject, randomised trial of cannabis preparations...