Effect of intrapulmonary tetrahydrocannabinol administration in humans.
Lineke Zuurman, Christine Roy, R C Schoemaker, A Hazekamp, J Den Hartigh, J C M E Bender, R Verpoorte, J L Pinquier, A F Cohen, J M A van Gerven
Journal of Psychopharmacology September 2008 DOI: 10.1177/0269881108089581 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial (crossover) Placebo-controlled Double-blind Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 12 |
| Population | Healthy males |
| Intervention | Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) |
| Dose | 2, 4, 6 and 8 mg |
| Duration | Single session with 90-minute intervals between doses |
| Measures | Visual Analogue Scales (alertness, feeling high, external perception), EEG, pupil size, saccadic eye movements, smooth pursuit, adaptive tracking |
| Topics | Cannabis |
| Key findings | The Volcano vaporizer delivered THC with low variability and produced dose-dependent increases in heart rate, body sway, and subjective effects. Heart rate equilibrated quickly (half-life 7.68 min), while CNS effects equilibrated more slowly (39.4–84.2 min). No effects were seen on saccadic eye movements, smooth pursuit, or adaptive tracking. |
Abstract
This randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study was designed to identify which pharmacodynamic parameters most accurately quantify the effects of delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the predominantly psychoactive component of cannabis. In addition, we investigated the acceptability and usefulness of a novel mode of intrapulmonary THC administration using a Volcano vaporizer and pure THC instead of cannabis. Rising doses of THC (2, 4, 6 and 8 mg) or vehicle were administered with 90 minutes intervals to twelve healthy males using a Volcano vaporizer. Very low between-subject variability was observed in THC plasma concentrations, characterising the Volcano vaporizer as a suitable method for the administration of THC. Heart rate showed a sharp increase and rapid decline after each THC administration (8 mg: 19.4 bpm: 95% CI 13.2, 25.5). By contrast, dose dependent effects of body sway (8 mg: 108.5%: 95% CI 72.2%, 152.4%) and different subjective parameters did not return to baseline between doses (Visual Analogue Scales of 'alertness' (8 mg: -33.6 mm: 95% CI -41.6, -25.7), 'feeling high' (8 mg: 1.09 U: 95% CI 0.85, 1.33), 'external perception' (8 mg: 0.62 U: 95% CI 0.37, 0.86)). PK/PD-modeling of heart rate displayed a relatively short equilibration half-life of 7.68 min. CNS parameters showed equilibration half-lives ranging between 39.4 - 84.2 min. Some EEG-frequency bands, and pupil size showed small changes following the highest dose of THC. No changes were seen in saccadic eye movements, smooth pursuit and adaptive tracking performance. These results may be applicable in the development of novel cannabinoid agonists and antagonists, and in studies of the pharmacology and physiology of cannabinoid systems in humans.
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 31
- Effect of Subanesthetic Ketamine on Intrinsic Functional Brain Connectivity Anesthesiology August 13, 2012
- Human Laboratory Studies on Cannabinoids and Psychosis. Biological Psychiatry April 1, 2016
- Evidence for involvement of the insula in the psychotropic effects of THC in humans: a double-blind, randomized pharmacological MRI study The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology April 14, 2011
- Acute psychomotor, memory and subjective effects of MDMA and THC co-administration over time in healthy volunteers Journal of Psychopharmacology September 3, 2010
- Psychedelic symptoms of cannabis and cocaine use as a function of trait impulsivity Journal of Psychopharmacology January 8, 2015
and 26 more in the library
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- Psychedelic Effects of Ketamine in Healthy Volunteers Anesthesiology 1998
- The psychotomimetic effects of intravenous delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol in healthy individuals: implications for psychosis. Neuropsychopharmacology August 2004
- The effects of cannabinoids on the brain. Progress in Neurobiology July 1999
- Comparative effects of alcohol and marijuana on mood, memory, and performance. Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior September 1, 1997
- Cannabinoid receptor localization in brain. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences March 1990
and 1 more in the library