Alcohol and marijuana: comparative dose effect profiles in humans.
S J Heishman, M L Stitzer, G E Bigelow
Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior November 1988 DOI: 10.1016/0091-3057(88)90244-4 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Double-blind, randomized crossover study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 6 |
| Population | Male subjects with histories of moderate alcohol and marijuana use |
| Interventions | Alcohol Marijuana |
| Dose | Alcohol: 0, 0.6, 1.2 g/kg; Marijuana: 0, 1.3, 2.7% delta 9-THC |
| Measures | circular lights, tracking, digit-symbol substitution (DSST) |
| Topics | Cannabis |
| Key points | Alcohol's subjective and performance-impairing effects increased with dose, with the high dose (1.2 g/kg) impairing circular lights, tracking, and digit-symbol substitution and the low dose (0.6 g/kg) impairing only circular lights. Marijuana produced similar subjective elevations at both active doses and minimal performance impairment, slowing only DSST speed. The authors report that smoked marijuana's subjective and performance profile resembled that of the low alcohol dose. |
Abstract
This study compared subjective and performance dose effect profiles of oral alcohol and smoked marijuana. Male subjects (N = 6) with histories of moderate alcohol and marijuana use received three doses of alcohol (0, 0.6, 1.2 g/kg) and three doses of marijuana (0, 1.3, 2.7% delta 9-THC) in a double-blind, randomized crossover design. Physiological indices indicated that active drug was delivered to subjects dose dependently. Alcohol produced dose-related elevations on several subjective measures of drug effect. The high dose of alcohol impaired performance on circular lights, tracking and digit-symbol substitution (DSST) tasks, whereas the low alcohol dose impaired only circular lights performance. Marijuana produced elevations on subjective report measures, but effects were similar for the two active doses. Minimal performance impairment was seen with marijuana on only one measure (DSST speed). The subjective and performance effect profiles produced by smoked marijuana were similar to that of the low (0.6 g/kg) dose of alcohol. These data are useful for understanding the relative performance impairment produced by alcohol and marijuana and the relationship between their subjective and behavioral effects.
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 8
- 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
- Toward a Comparative Overview of Dependence Potential and Acute Toxicity of Psychoactive Substances Used Nonmedically The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse 1993
- The effect of alcohol, THC and their combination on perceived effects, willingness to drive and performance of driving and non-driving tasks. Accident; Analysis and Prevention November 2010
- Neurocognitive performance during acute THC intoxication in heavy and occasional cannabis users. Journal of Psychopharmacology May 2009
and 3 more in the library