Oral Cannabidiol does not Alter the Subjective, Reinforcing or Cardiovascular Effects of Smoked Cannabis.
Margaret Haney, Robert J Malcolm, Shanna Babalonis, Paul A Nuzzo, Ziva D. Cooper, Gillinder Bedi, Kevin M Gray, Aimee Mcrae-Clark, Michelle R Lofwall, Steven Sparenborg, Sharon L Walsh
Neuropsychopharmacology July 2016 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2015.367 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized, double-blind, within-subject laboratory study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 31 |
| Population | Non-treatment-seeking, healthy cannabis smokers (17 male, 14 female) |
| Interventions | Cannabidiol (CBD) Smoked cannabis |
| Dose | CBD 0, 200, 400, 800 mg, p.o.; smoked cannabis 0.01% THC (inactive) or 5.30-5.80% THC (active) |
| Duration | Eight outpatient sessions; CBD administered 90 min prior to cannabis administration |
| Topics | Cannabis CBD |
| Key points | Active smoked cannabis was self-administered by significantly more participants than inactive cannabis and produced time-dependent increases in 'High', 'Good Effect', cigarette ratings, and heart rate. Oral CBD (200, 400, or 800 mg) produced no significant psychoactive or cardiovascular effects on its own and did not significantly alter any of these cannabis outcomes relative to placebo, suggesting that oral CBD does not reduce the reinforcing, physiological, or positive subjective effects of smoked cannabis. |
Abstract
Cannabidiol (CBD), a constituent of cannabis with few psychoactive effects, has been reported in some studies to attenuate certain aspects of Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) intoxication. However, most studies have tested only one dose of CBD in combination with one dose of oral THC, making it difficult to assess the nature of this interaction. Further, the effect of oral CBD on smoked cannabis administration is unknown. The objective of this multi-site, randomized, double-blind, within-subject laboratory study was to assess the influence of CBD (0, 200, 400, 800 mg, p.o.) pretreatment on the reinforcing, subjective, cognitive, and physiological effects of smoked cannabis (0.01 (inactive), 5.30-5.80% THC). Non-treatment-seeking, healthy cannabis smokers (n=31; 17M, 14 F) completed eight outpatient sessions. CBD was administered 90 min prior to cannabis administration. The behavioral and cardiovascular effects of cannabis were measured at baseline and repeatedly throughout the session. A subset of participants (n=8) completed an additional session to measure plasma CBD concentrations after administration of the highest CBD dose (800 mg). Under placebo CBD conditions, active cannabis (1) was self-administered by significantly more participants than placebo cannabis and (2) produced significant, time-dependent increases in ratings of 'High', 'Good Effect', ratings of the cannabis cigarette (eg, strength, liking), and heart rate relative to inactive cannabis. CBD, which alone produced no significant psychoactive or cardiovascular effects, did not significantly alter any of these outcomes. Cannabis self-administration, subjective effects, and cannabis ratings did not vary as a function of CBD dose relative to placebo capsules. These findings suggest that oral CBD does not reduce the reinforcing, physiological, or positive subjective effects of smoked cannabis.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on CBD, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 20
- Cannabidiol (CBD) content in vaporized cannabis does not prevent tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)-induced impairment of driving and cognition Psychopharmacology May 1, 2019
- Acute and chronic effects of cannabinoids on effort-related decision-making and reward learning: an evaluation of the cannabis ‘amotivational’ hypotheses Psychopharmacology September 2, 2016
- The acute effects of cannabidiol on the neural correlates of reward anticipation and feedback in healthy volunteers Journal of Psychopharmacology August 5, 2020
- Cannabidiol Increases Psychotropic Effects and Plasma Concentrations of Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Without Improving Its Analgesic Properties. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics November 1, 2024
- Opposite Roles for Cannabidiol and δ-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol in Psychotomimetic Effects of Cannabis Extracts Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology August 20, 2021
and 15 more in the library
Cites 17
- Cannabidiol inhibits THC-elicited paranoid symptoms and hippocampal-dependent memory impairment Journal of Psychopharmacology October 5, 2012
- Distinct Effects of Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol and Cannabidiol on Neural Activation During Emotional Processing Archives of General Psychiatry 2009
- Modulation of Mediotemporal and Ventrostriatal Function in Humans by Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Archives of General Psychiatry April 1, 2009
- Neurophysiological and subjective profile of marijuana with varying concentrations of cannabinoids Behavioural Pharmacology September 1, 2005
- Does cannabidiol protect against the negative effects of THC? The British Journal of Psychiatry September 30, 2010
and 12 more in the library