Sex differences in the subjective effects of oral Δ9-THC in cannabis users.
Jessica S Fogel, Thomas H Kelly, Philip M Westgate, Joshua A Lile
Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior January 2017 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2016.01.007 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Retrospective analysis of pooled drug-discrimination studies Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 30 |
| Population | Cannabis users (18 men, 12 women) who had completed previous Δ9-THC discrimination studies |
| Intervention | Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) |
| Dose | 0, 5, 15 and a "high" dose of either 25 or 30 mg |
| Measures | drug-discrimination task, subjective effects questionnaire, Visual Analog Scale (VAS), psychomotor performance tasks, physiological measures |
| Topics | Cannabis |
| Keywords | Drug-discrimination Gender Self-report |
| Key points | Oral Δ9-THC produced dose-dependent increases in drug-appropriate responding, positive and intoxication-related subjective ratings, psychomotor impairment, and heart rate. Sex differences emerged only on subjective Visual Analog Scale items and varied by dose: women showed greater subjective responses than men at 5 mg, whereas men were more sensitive than women at 15 mg. The authors propose this dose-dependent separation may contribute to differential development of problematic cannabis use. |
Abstract
Previous studies suggest that there are sex differences in endocannabinoid function and the response to exogenous cannabinoids, though data from clinical studies comparing acute cannabinoid effects in men and women under controlled laboratory conditions are limited. To further explore these potential differences, data from 30 cannabis users (N=18 M, 12 F) who completed previous Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) discrimination studies were combined for this retrospective analysis. In each study, subjects learned to discriminate between oral Δ9-THC and placebo and then received a range of Δ9-THC doses (0, 5, 15 and a "high" dose of either 25 or 30mg). Responses on a drug-discrimination task, subjective effects questionnaire, psychomotor performance tasks, and physiological measures were assessed. Δ9-THC dose-dependently increased drug-appropriate responding, ratings on "positive" Visual Analog Scale (VAS) items (e.g., good effects, like drug, take again), and items related to intoxication (e.g., high, stoned). Δ9-THC also dose-dependently impaired performance on psychomotor tasks and elevated heart rate. Sex differences on VAS items emerged as a function of dose. Women exhibited significantly greater subjective responses to oral drug administration than men at the 5mg Δ9-THC dose, whereas men were more sensitive to the subjective effects of the 15mg dose of Δ9-THC than women. These results demonstrate dose-dependent separation in the subjective response to oral Δ9-THC administration by sex, which might contribute to the differential development of problematic cannabis use.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on cannabis, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| High-potency cannabis and the risk of psychosis People with first episode of psychosis and healthy controls from the local population | 2009 | Case-control study | n = 454 |
| Ayahuasca-Assisted Therapy for Addiction: Results from a Preliminary Observational Study in Canada Rural aboriginal population | 2013 | Observational study | |
| Impaired cognitive performance in drug free users of recreational ecstasy (MDMA) Otherwise healthy young people | 2000 | Observational | |
| Continued cannabis use and risk of incidence and persistence of psychotic symptoms: 10 year follow-up cohort study Individuals from the general population in Germany aged 14-24 at baseline | 2011 | Observational cohort | n = 1,923 |
| Cannabis-induced psychosis and subsequent schizophrenia-spectrum disorders: follow-up study of 535 incident cases Patients treated for cannabis-induced psychotic symptoms in Denmark between 1994 and... | 2005 | Observational cohort | n = 535 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 13
- Sex and Gender Differences in the Effects of Novel Psychoactive Substances. Brain Sciences September 3, 2020
- Sex differences in acute cannabis effects revisited: Results from two randomized, controlled trials Addiction Biology December 22, 2021
- Sex differences in the acute effects of oral THC: a randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover human laboratory study. Psychopharmacology October 1, 2024
- Sex differences in the acute effects of cannabis on human cognition: A systematic review. Frontiers in neuroendocrinology October 1, 2025
- A six-hour time series of the acute effects of ingested cannabis intoxication on a battery of cognitive-motor tasks PLoS One August 13, 2026
and 8 more in the library
Cites 8
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- Separate and combined effects of the GABA(B) agonist baclofen and Δ9-THC in humans discriminating Δ9-THC. Drug and Alcohol Dependence November 1, 2012
- Separate and combined effects of the GABA reuptake inhibitor tiagabine and Δ9-THC in humans discriminating Δ9-THC. Drug and Alcohol Dependence April 1, 2012
- Separate and combined effects of the cannabinoid agonists nabilone and Δ⁹-THC in humans discriminating Δ⁹-THC. Drug and Alcohol Dependence July 1, 2011
- Substitution profile of the cannabinoid agonist nabilone in human subjects discriminating δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol. Clinical Neuropharmacology 2010
and 3 more in the library