An Exploration of Heart Rate Response and Blood Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) Levels to Commercially Available Cannabis Edibles by Dose

Abstract

Introduction: Studies have shown that tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) consumption can acutely increase heart rate (HR) regardless of the percent concentration of the product consumed, mode of consumption (e.g. flower, edibles, concentrate), and tolerance. Prior studies have found that the magnitude of this effect is slightly larger in inhaled products, however few purposeful studies on HR response to commercially available edible cannabis have been done. Materials & Methods Participants (N = 59) were consented and asked to use at least 5mg of cannabis edibles during their study visit. Participants were enrolled into one of two cannabis use categories based on self-reported frequency of their cannabis use. Participants who use any cannabis product daily (defined for study purposes as 29 days of the last 30) and occasionally (participants who use cannabis at least one time per month but no more than three times per week). Venous blood samples were taken at baseline and after edible consumption, from an intravenous line at an average of 43 (post 1), 89 (post 2) and 178 minutes (post 3) post cannabis use. Participants were seated for all HR collection which occurred at baseline and an average of 39 (post 1), 84 (post 2), and 163 (post3) minutes after the participant’s end of cannabis consumption. Medications and medical conditions that suppress HR or induce elevated HR were identified and controlled for in this analysis.

Results: Overall, we observed a statistically significant but small non-clinically significant decrease in HR after consumption of cannabis edible. This was observed across participants in the occasional and daily groups, and across a range of doses. This decrease was only statistically significant in certain dose groups. This finding is excepted by the 10-20mg edible group at the post 2 timepoint (expected peak drug effect), where we observed a non-clinically significant (~ 5bpm) increase in HR.

Discussion: This analysis suggests that edible cannabis does not have the same impact on HR as inhaled cannabis products. This analysis also suggests that commercially available edible cannabis does not produce a robust cardiovascular response when used naturalistically.