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Acute psychomotor, memory and subjective effects of MDMA and THC co-administration over time in healthy volunteers

Gjh Dumont, J. G. Coen van Hasselt, M. de Kam, Jma van Gerven, Daan J Touw, Jk Buitelaar, Rj Verkes

Journal of Psychopharmacology September 3, 2010 DOI: 10.1177/0269881110376687 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Randomized controlled trial Placebo-controlled Double-blind Peer reviewed
Sample size 16
Population Healthy volunteers aged 18–27
Interventions MDMA THC
Dose 100 mg MDMA orally; 4, 6, and 6 mg THC vaporized (interval of 90 min)
Topics Cannabis MDMA
Keywords Psychomotor learning Crossover study Placebo Dronabinol Hallucinogen Anesthesia Drug Pharmacology Cognition
Citations 38
Key findings Co-administration of MDMA and THC did not worsen cognitive impairment beyond THC alone but increased desired subjective drug effects and drug strength compared with MDMA alone.

Abstract

In Western societies a considerable percentage of young people expose themselves to the combination of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or ‘ecstasy’) and cannabis. The aim of the present study was to assess the acute effects of co-administration of MDMA and THC (the main psychoactive compound of cannabis) on pharmacokinetics, psychomotor performance, memory and subjective experience over time. We performed a four-way, double blind, randomized, crossover, placebo-controlled study in 16 healthy volunteers (12 male, four female) between the ages of 18 and 27. MDMA (100 mg) was given orally, THC (4, 6, and 6 mg, interval of 90 min) was vaporized and inhaled. THC induced more robust cognitive impairment compared with MDMA, and co-administration did not exacerbate single drug effects on cognitive function. However, co-administration of THC with MDMA increased desired subjective drug effects and drug strength compared with the MDMA condition, which may explain the widespread use of this combination.

Comparable studies

Other randomized controlled trials on cannabis, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
Cannabidiol inhibits THC-elicited paranoid symptoms and hippocampal-dependent memory impairment Healthy participants 2012 Randomized controlled trial n = 48
Distinct Effects of Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol and Cannabidiol on Neural Activation During Emotional Processing Healthy, English-native, right-handed men who had used cannabis 15 times or less in... 2009 Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled crossover trial n = 15
Acute Effects of a Single, Oral dose of d9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Cannabidiol (CBD) Administration in Healthy Volunteers Healthy male subjects 2012 Randomized controlled trial n = 16
Modulation of Mediotemporal and Ventrostriatal Function in Humans by Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Healthy, native English-speaking, right-handed men of white race/ethnicity who had used... 2009 Randomized controlled trial n = 15
Cannabidiol (CBD) content in vaporized cannabis does not prevent tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)-induced impairment of driving and cognition Healthy volunteers with a history of light cannabis use 2019 Randomized, double-blind, within-subjects crossover n = 14

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