Sex Differences in the Neuropsychiatric Effects and Pharmacokinetics of Cannabidiol: A Scoping Review.
Justin Matheson, Zoe Bourgault, Bernard Le Foll
Biomolecules October 12, 2022 DOI: 10.3390/biom12101462 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Scoping review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Intervention | Cannabidiol (CBD) |
| Topics | Addiction CBD |
| Keywords | Pharmacokinetics Sex differences |
| Key findings | The authors report that sex differences in CBD's effects and pharmacokinetics have been examined in only a small, mixed literature: some preclinical studies suggest female-biased CBD concentrations and male-only antidepressant-like effects, while human pharmacokinetic findings are inconsistent and no study addressed gender. They argue that sex and gender remain understudied as moderators of CBD's neuropsychiatric effects. |
Abstract
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-intoxicating cannabinoid compound with diverse molecular targets and potential therapeutic effects, including effects relevant to the treatment of psychiatric disorders. In this scoping review, we sought to determine the extent to which sex and gender have been considered as potential moderators of the neuropsychiatric effects and pharmacokinetics of CBD. In this case, 300 articles were screened, retrieved from searches in PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Google Scholar, PsycInfo and CINAHL, though only 12 met our eligibility criteria: eight studies in preclinical models and four studies in humans. Among the preclinical studies, three suggested that sex may influence long-term effects of gestational or adolescent exposure to CBD; two found no impact of sex on CBD modulation of addiction-relevant effects of Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC); two found antidepressant-like effects of CBD in males only; and one found greater plasma and liver CBD concentrations in females compared to males. Among the human studies, two found no sex difference in CBD pharmacokinetics in patient samples, one found greater plasma CBD concentrations in healthy females compared to males, and one found no evidence of sex differences in the effects of CBD on responses to trauma recall in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). No studies were identified that considered the role of gender in CBD treatment effects. We discuss potential implications and current limitations of the existing literature.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on CBD, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 3
- Assessment of clinical outcomes in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder: analysis from the UK Medical Cannabis Registry. Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics 2022
- Sex differences in the acute effects of cannabis on human cognition: A systematic review. Frontiers in neuroendocrinology October 1, 2025
- Young Adult Cannabis Use and Circulating Endocannabinoid Concentrations on Cognitive Performance. Frontiers in adolescent medicine 2025
Cites 2
- Cannabis sativa: A comprehensive ethnopharmacological review of a medicinal plant with a long history. Journal of Ethnopharmacology December 5, 2018
- An assessment of concurrent cannabidiol and Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol administration in place aversion and taste avoidance conditioning. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology April 2018