Cannabis and tolerance: acute drug impairment as a function of cannabis use history
Johannes G. Ramaekers, J. H. van Wel, Desirée Spronk, Stefan W. Toennes, Kim P. C. Kuypers, Eef L. Theunissen, Robbert J. Verkes
Scientific Reports May 26, 2016 DOI: 10.1038/srep26843 (opens in new tab)
The journal has published a correction to this paper. Read the correction (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 122 |
| Population | Drug users with cannabis use history ranging from infrequent to daily |
| Interventions | Cannabis (300 μg/kg THC) cocaine HCl (300 mg) |
| Dose | 300 μg/kg THC for cannabis; 300 mg for cocaine HCl |
| Topics | Cannabis |
| Keywords | Drug tolerance Medline |
| Citations | 81 |
| Key findings | Acute cannabis intoxication impairs neurocognitive performance similarly across users regardless of cannabis use history, indicating no tolerance to these effects. |
Abstract
Cannabis use history as predictor of neurocognitive response to cannabis intoxication remains subject to scientific and policy debates. The present study assessed the influence of cannabis on neurocognition in cannabis users whose cannabis use history ranged from infrequent to daily use. Drug users (N = 122) received acute doses of cannabis (300 μg/kg THC), cocaine HCl (300 mg) and placebo. Cocaine served as active control for demonstrating neurocognitive test sensitivity. Executive function, impulse control, attention, psychomotor function and subjective intoxication were significantly worse after cannabis administration relative to placebo. Cocaine improved psychomotor function and attention, impaired impulse control and increased feelings of intoxication. Acute effects of cannabis and cocaine on neurocognitive performance were similar across cannabis users irrespective of their cannabis use history. Absence of tolerance implies that that frequent cannabis use and intoxication can be expected to interfere with neurocognitive performance in many daily environments such as school, work or traffic.
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 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 21
- Are adolescents more vulnerable to the harmful effects of cannabis than adults? A placebo-controlled study in human males Translational Psychiatry November 29, 2016
- Neurocognition and subjective experience following acute doses of the synthetic cannabinoid JWH‐018: a phase 1, placebo‐controlled, pilot study British Journal of Pharmacology November 22, 2017
- Functional brain connectomes reflect acute and chronic cannabis use Scientific Reports February 14, 2022
- Neurocognition and Subjective Experience Following Acute Doses of the Synthetic Cannabinoid JWH-018: Responders Versus Nonresponders Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research February 27, 2019
- Safety and cognitive pharmacodynamics following dose escalations with 3-methylmethcathinone (3-MMC): a first in human, designer drug study. Neuropsychopharmacology June 1, 2025
and 16 more in the library
Cites 10
- Tolerance and cross-tolerance to neurocognitive effects of THC and alcohol in heavy cannabis users Psychopharmacology October 30, 2010
- Smoked Cannabis' Psychomotor and Neurocognitive Effects in Occasional and Frequent Smokers Journal of Analytical Toxicology March 4, 2015
- Neurophysiological functioning of occasional and heavy cannabis users during THC intoxication Psychopharmacology October 5, 2011
- Single doses of THC and cocaine decrease proficiency of impulse control in heavy cannabis users British Journal of Pharmacology October 11, 2013
- Balanced placebo design with marijuana: pharmacological and expectancy effects on impulsivity and risk taking. Psychopharmacology October 2012
and 5 more in the library