Skip to content

Effects of naturalistic doses of cannabis edibles on cognition and association with blood THC.

Patricia Di Ciano, Sampson Zhao, Pamela Kaduri, Siddhi Patel, Kruti Bhakta, Christine M Wickens, Sheng Chen, Bernard Le Foll, Bruna Brands

Psychopharmacology March 1, 2026 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-025-06863-2 (opens in new tab)

Read Full Text
Relevant Not relevant

Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Observational study Peer reviewed
Sample size 22
Population Adults who use legally sourced cannabis edibles
Intervention cannabis edibles
Dose mean 7.3 ± 2.9 mg of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol
Duration 150 and 270 min after ingesting the edible
Topics Cannabis
Keywords Attention Learning Memory Trail making test
Citations 2
Key findings At 150 minutes after ingesting a cannabis edible, performance decreased on two measures of verbal free recall, but no effects were found on visual attention or executive function, and blood THC was not correlated with any cognitive outcomes.

Abstract

Smoked cannabis is known to have effects on cognitive function. The use of edibles is on the rise yet there are few studies of the effects of edibles on cognitive function. Further, most studies of cannabis used fixed laboratory doses which may not capture some of the nuances of more naturalistic doses. Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the psychoactive component of cannabis yet the relationship of blood THC to cognitive performance is unclear. In the present observational study participants (n = 22) were invited to the lab to use their regular legally sourced cannabis edibles. At 150 and 270 min after ingesting the edible, measures of learning and memory (verbal free recall task), executive function (trail making test) and functional vision and visual attention (useful field of view test) were taken. Subjective experiences were also measured, and blood THC was correlated with cognitive outcomes. At 150 min after taking a cannabis edible (mean 7.3 ± 2.9 mg of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) decreases were seen in performance on two measures of the verbal free recall. No effects were found on the useful field of view and trail making tests. There were significant increases in subjective experiences as assessed with a visual analog scale and the Addiction Research Centre Inventory; some changes were also seen on the Profile of Mood States. Blood THC was not correlated with any cognitive outcomes. In sum, the present results suggest that people who choose to use relatively low doses of cannabis edibles may experience decrements in cognitive function while experiencing intoxication.

Comparable studies

Other observational and cohort studies on cannabis, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
High-potency cannabis and the risk of psychosis People with first episode of psychosis and healthy controls from the local population 2009 Case-control study n = 454
Ayahuasca-Assisted Therapy for Addiction: Results from a Preliminary Observational Study in Canada Rural aboriginal population 2013 Observational study
Impaired cognitive performance in drug free users of recreational ecstasy (MDMA) Otherwise healthy young people 2000 Observational
Continued cannabis use and risk of incidence and persistence of psychotic symptoms: 10 year follow-up cohort study Individuals from the general population in Germany aged 14-24 at baseline 2011 Observational cohort n = 1,923
Cannabis-induced psychosis and subsequent schizophrenia-spectrum disorders: follow-up study of 535 incident cases Patients treated for cannabis-induced psychotic symptoms in Denmark between 1994 and... 2005 Observational cohort n = 535

Citations in the library

Cited by 2

Cites 16

and 11 more in the library

Related reading

Explore topics

Cannabis Addiction