Smoked cannabis reduces peak cocaine plasma levels and subjective effects in a controlled drug administration study of polysubstance use in men.
Conor H. Murray, Margaret Haney, Richard W Foltin, Jeanne Manubay, Gillinder Bedi, Ziva D. Cooper
Drug and Alcohol Dependence February 1, 2023 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2022.109757 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Double-blind, placebo-controlled inpatient study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 9 |
| Population | Healthy, non-treatment-seeking volunteers who reported smoking both cocaine and cannabis (all males) |
| Interventions | Cannabis Cocaine |
| Dose | cannabis 0.0 or 5.6% THC; cocaine 0, 12, or 25 mg |
| Duration | 13-day inpatient protocol |
| Topics | Cannabis |
| Keywords | Cocaine Pharmacokinetics Polysubstance use Subjective effects |
| Key points | Active cannabis (5.6% THC) given before cocaine reduced peak plasma cocaine and metabolite levels and altered the subjective experience of smoked cocaine, including attenuating cocaine-related reductions in 'Hunger' and 'Calm.' Cocaine dose-dependently increased plasma cocaine and metabolites and subjective cocaine effects. |
Abstract
Despite the high prevalence of polysubstance use, outcomes and potential risks associated with common drug combinations are not well characterized. Many individuals who use cocaine also use cannabis, yet little is known about how interactions between the two drugs might contribute to continued co-use. The aim of this double-blind, placebo-controlled study was to determine the physiological and subjective effects of smoked cannabis with smoked cocaine, to identify variables that may contribute to the continued use of this drug combination. Healthy, non-treatment seeking volunteers who reported smoking both cocaine and cannabis (N = 9, all males) completed a 13-day inpatient protocol. On session days, cannabis [0.0 or 5.6 % tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)] was administered 28 min prior to cocaine (0, 12, or 25 mg). Dependent measures included pharmacokinetic assessment of THC and cocaine and their respective metabolites, in addition to subjective and cardiovascular effects. Active cannabis (5.6 % THC) increased plasma levels of THC and the metabolite 11-nor-9-carboxy-Δ9-THC (THCCOOH), as well as subjective ratings of cannabis effects and heart rate relative to inactive cannabis. Cocaine dose-dependently increased plasma cocaine and metabolites and subjective ratings of cocaine effects. Active cannabis pre-treatment decreased plasma levels of cocaine and metabolites. Furthermore, active cannabis attenuated cocaine-related reductions in 'Hunger' and 'Calm.' Cannabis pre-treatment altered the subjective experience of smoked cocaine and reduced peak plasma levels of cocaine. Future studies should explore additional doses of each drug and whether these changes also impact cocaine's reinforcing 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
Cites 3
- Patterns of simultaneous polysubstance use in drug using university students Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental June 1, 2006
- The neuropsychopharmacology of cannabis: A review of human imaging studies Pharmacology & Therapeutics October 20, 2018
- Cannabinoid-induced alterations in brain disposition of drugs of abuse. Biochemical Pharmacology June 1, 2001