Cannabis Use and Neuroadaptation: A Call for Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Challenge Studies
Johannes G. Ramaekers, Eef L. Theunissen, Peter van Ruitenbeek, Natasha L. Mason
Frontiers in Psychiatry April 14, 2022 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.870750 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Cannabis CBD |
| Keywords | Effects of cannabis Neurocognitive Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol Cannabinoid Cognition Receptor |
| Citations | 6 |
| Key points | Proposes that acute THC dosing studies can directly assess neuroadaptations in chronic cannabis users and inform models of compulsive use. |
Abstract
Currently, the assessment of the neurobehavioral consequences of repeated cannabis use is restricted to studies in which brain function of chronic cannabis users is compared to that of non-cannabis using controls. The assumption of such studies is that changes in brain function of chronic users are caused by repeated and prolonged exposure to acute cannabis intoxication. However, differences in brain function between chronic cannabis users and non-users might also arise from confounding factors such as polydrug use, alcohol use, withdrawal, economic status, or lifestyle conditions. We propose a methodology that highlights the relevance of acute Δ 9 -tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) dosing studies for a direct assessment of neuroadaptations in chronic cannabis users. The approach includes quantification of neurochemical, receptor, and functional brain network changes in response to an acute cannabis challenge, as well as stratification of cannabis using groups ranging from occasional to cannabis-dependent individuals. The methodology allows for an evaluation of THC induced neuroadaptive and neurocognitive changes across cannabis use history, that can inform neurobiological models on reward driven, compulsive cannabis use.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on cannabis, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delta-8, Delta-10, HHC, THC-O, THCP, and THCV: What Should We Call These Products? | 2023 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Model Psychoses Induced by LSD-25 in Normals | 1956 | Historical analysis | |
| Is there a specific ‘cannabis psychosis’? | 2004 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Peak-experience and the entheogenic use of cannabis in world religions | 2021 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Out of Harm's Way?: Illicit Drug Use, Medicalization and the Law | 2003 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
Citations in the library
Cited by 3
- Metabolomic profiling of cannabis use and cannabis intoxication in humans. Neuropsychopharmacology May 1, 2025
- Chronic Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol exposure during adolescence is associated with persistent behavioural tolerance in adult nonhuman primates. British Journal of Pharmacology November 1, 2025
- Cannabis Perturbs Dynamic Brain States Biological Psychiatry October 21, 2025
Cites 20
- Shifted balance of dorsal versus ventral striatal communication with frontal reward and regulatory regions in cannabis‐dependent males Human Brain Mapping September 12, 2018
- Cannabis Dampens the Effects of Music in Brain Regions Sensitive to Reward and Emotion The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology August 30, 2017
- Cannabis and cocaine decrease cognitive impulse control and functional corticostriatal connectivity in drug users with low activity DBH genotypes Brain Imaging and Behavior December 14, 2015
- Reduced responsiveness of the reward system is associated with tolerance to cannabis impairment in chronic users Addiction Biology December 22, 2019
- Telling true from false: cannabis users show increased susceptibility to false memories Molecular Psychiatry March 31, 2015
and 15 more in the library