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Cannabis research published in 2010

62 studies whose primary subject is cannabis were published in 2010, up from 50 in 2009. Newest first. Back to the cannabis overview

Studies

Antagonism of ∆⁹-THC induced behavioral effects by rimonabant: time course studies in rats.

European Journal of Pharmacology December 1, 2010 Torbjörn U C Järbe, Roger S Gifford, Alexandros Makriyannis

The objective was to examine the time course of the cannabinoid 1 receptor antagonist/inverse agonist rimonabant's ability to antagonize in vivo cannabinergic agonist effects. We used two behavioral procedures sensitive to the effects of ∆⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (∆⁹-THC): rat drug discrimination (EXP-1) and suppression of fixed-ratio responding (FR) for food reinforcement (EXP-2). Two training...

Chronic cannabis users show altered neurophysiological functioning on Stroop task conflict resolution.

Psychopharmacology December 2010 Robert A Battisti, Steven Roodenrys, Stuart J Johnstone et al.

Chronic cannabis use has been related to deficits in cognition (particularly memory) and the normal functioning of brain structures sensitive to cannabinoids. There is increasing evidence that conflict monitoring and resolution processes (i.e. the ability to detect and respond to change) may be affected. This study examined the ability to inhibit an automatic reading response in order to...

Combined effects of acute, very-low-dose ethanol and delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol in healthy human volunteers.

Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior November 24, 2010 Michael E. Ballard, Harriet de Wit

Rationale: Previous studies examining the combined effects of ethanol and cannabis, or its primary psychoactive ingredient, ∆⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), have provided mixed results. Data from an in vitro study suggests that combined, sub-threshold doses of these drugs may interact to produce synergistic effects. Very low doses of the two drugs in combination have not been tested in humans....

The effect of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol on 5-HT3 receptors depends on the current density.

Neuroscience November 24, 2010 K H S Yang, D Isaev, M Morales et al.

The effects of Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive component of cannabis, on the function of 5-HT type 3 (5-HT(3)) receptors were investigated using a two-electrode voltage clamp technique in Xenopus oocytes, and a whole-cell patch clamp technique in rat nodose ganglion neurons. In oocytes injected with 3 ng cRNA of 5-HT(3A) receptor, THC reversibly inhibited currents evoked with...

Longitudinal study of cognition among adolescent marijuana users over three weeks of abstinence.

Addictive Behaviors November 2010 Karen L. Hanson, Jennifer L Winward, Alecia D Schweinsburg et al.

Cognitive deficits that persist up to a month have been detected among adult marijuana users, but decrements and their pattern of recovery are less known in adolescent users. Previously, we reported cognitive deficits among adolescent marijuana users after one month of abstinence (Medina, Hanson, Schweinsburg, Cohen-Zion, Nagel, & Tapert, 2007). In this longitudinal study, we characterized...

The effect of alcohol, THC and their combination on perceived effects, willingness to drive and performance of driving and non-driving tasks.

Accident; Analysis and Prevention November 2010 Adi Ronen, Hadas Schwartz Chassidim, Pnina Gershon et al.

Driving under the influence of drugs (DUID) is one of the main causes of car accidents. Alcohol and marijuana are the most popular drugs among recreational users. Many classify these drugs as "Light" drugs and therefore allow themselves to drive after consuming them. The study had two main objectives: 1) to investigate the effect of alcohol (BAC=0.05%), THC (13 mg) and their combination on...

Adolescent brain maturation, the endogenous cannabinoid system and the neurobiology of cannabis-induced schizophrenia.

Progress in Neurobiology November 2010 Matthijs G. Bossong, Raymond J.m. Niesink

Cannabis use during adolescence increases the risk of developing psychotic disorders later in life. However, the neurobiological processes underlying this relationship are unknown. This review reports the results of a literature search comprising various neurobiological disciplines, ultimately converging into a model that might explain the neurobiology of cannabis-induced schizophrenia. The...

Pre-Illness Cannabis Use and the Early Course of Nonaffective Psychotic Disorders: Associations with Premorbid Functioning, the Prodrome, and Mode of Onset of Psychosis

Schizophrenia Research October 30, 2010 Michael T Compton, Beth Broussard, Claire E. Ramsay et al.

Introduction Limited research indicates that pre-illness cannabis use may result in an earlier age at onset of psychosis, though little is known about the influence of prior cannabis use on the premorbid and prodromal phases. This study examined effects of prior or concurrent cannabis (as well as nicotine and alcohol) use on: (1) early adolescent (12–15 years) premorbid functioning, (2) late...

Tolerance and cross-tolerance to neurocognitive effects of THC and alcohol in heavy cannabis users

Psychopharmacology October 30, 2010 Johannes G. Ramaekers, Eef L. Theunissen, Marjolein de Brouwer et al. 168 citations

INTRODUCTION: Previous research has shown that heavy cannabis users develop tolerance to the impairing effects of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on neurocognitive functions. Animal studies suggest that chronic cannabis consumption may also produce cross-tolerance for the impairing effects of alcohol, but supportive data in humans is scarce. PURPOSE: The present study was designed to assess...

Chronic adolescent exposure to Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol in COMT mutant mice: impact on psychosis-related and other phenotypes.

Neuropsychopharmacology October 2010 Colm M P O'Tuathaigh, Magdalena Hryniewiecka, Aine Behan et al.

Cannabis use confers a two-fold increase in the risk for psychosis, with adolescent use conferring even greater risk. A high-low activity catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) polymorphism may modulate the effects of adolescent Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) exposure on the risk for adult psychosis. Mice with knockout of the COMT gene were treated chronically with THC (4.0 and 8.0 mg/kg over 20...

Impact of cannabidiol on the acute memory and psychotomimetic effects of smoked cannabis: naturalistic study: naturalistic study [corrected].

The British Journal of Psychiatry October 2010 Celia J. A. Morgan, Gráinne Schäfer, Tom P. Freeman et al.

The two main constituents of cannabis, cannabidiol and Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), have opposing effects both pharmacologically and behaviourally when administered in the laboratory. Street cannabis is known to contain varying levels of each cannabinoid. To study how the varying levels of cannabidiol and THC have an impact on the acute effects of the drug in naturalistic settings. Cannabis...

Does cannabidiol protect against the negative effects of THC?

The British Journal of Psychiatry September 30, 2010 Cécile Henquet, Rebecca Kuepper 16 citations

A recent study by Morgan and colleagues found that cannabidiol attenuates the acute cognitive effects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). This is of interest as THC has been associated with the detrimental effects of cannabis on mental health in at-risk users, and the potency of cannabis is increasing across Europe.

Do patients think cannabis causes schizophrenia? - A qualitative study on the causal beliefs of cannabis using patients with schizophrenia.

Harm Reduction Journal September 28, 2010 Anna Buadze, Rudolf Stohler, Beate Schulze et al.

There has been a considerable amount of debate among the research community whether cannabis use may cause schizophrenia and whether cannabis use of patients with schizophrenia is associated with earlier and more frequent relapses. Considering that studies exploring patients' view on controversial topics have contributed to our understanding of important clinical issues, it is surprising how...

Acute psychomotor, memory and subjective effects of MDMA and THC co-administration over time in healthy volunteers

Journal of Psychopharmacology September 3, 2010 Gjh Dumont, J. G. Coen van Hasselt, M. de Kam et al. 38 citations

In Western societies a considerable percentage of young people expose themselves to the combination of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or ‘ecstasy’) and cannabis. The aim of the present study was to assess the acute effects of co-administration of MDMA and THC (the main psychoactive compound of cannabis) on pharmacokinetics, psychomotor performance, memory and subjective experience over...

The influence of recency of use on fMRI response during spatial working memory in adolescent marijuana users.

Journal of Psychoactive Drugs September 2010 Alecia Dager Schweinsburg, Brian C Schweinsburg, Krista Lisdahl Medina et al.

Some neurocognitive recovery occurs within a month of abstinence from heavy marijuana use, yet functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has revealed altered activation among recent and abstinent adult users. We compared fMRI response during a spatial working memory (SWM) task between adolescent marijuana users with brief and sustained durations of abstinence. Participants were 13 recent...

Auditory mismatch negativity deficits in long-term heavy cannabis users.

European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience September 2010 Patrik Roser, Beate Della, Christine Norra et al.

Mismatch negativity (MMN) is an auditory event-related potential indicating auditory sensory memory and information processing. The present study tested the hypothesis that chronic cannabis use is associated with deficient MMN generation. MMN was investigated in age- and gender-matched chronic cannabis users (n = 30) and nonuser controls (n = 30). The cannabis users were divided into two groups...

Structural MRI findings in long-term cannabis users: what do we know?

Substance Use & Misuse September 2010 Valentina Lorenzetti, Dan I Lubman, Sarah Whittle et al.

In animal studies, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) has been found to affect brain morphology, particularly within areas rich in cannabinoid receptors (e.g., hippocampus, cerebral cortex). While cannabis remains the most widely used illicit drug worldwide, there has been limited work investigating its effects on human brain tissue. In this paper, we conducted a systematic review of existing...

Neurophysiological and cognitive effects of smoked marijuana in frequent users.

Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior September 2010 Carl L. Hart, Aaron B Ilan, Alan Gevins et al.

Previously, we reported that acute marijuana intoxication minimally affected complex cognitive performance of daily marijuana smokers. It is possible that the cognitive tests used were insensitive to marijuana-related cognitive effects. In the current study, electroencephalographic (EEG) signals were recorded as daily marijuana users performed additional tests of immediate working memory and...

Evidence of increased activation underlying cognitive control in ecstasy and cannabis users.

Neuroimage August 15, 2010 Gloria M P Roberts, Hugh P Garavan

Evidence suggests that users of ecstasy (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) have behavioural and cognitive deficits and show increased impulsivity. Impulse control impairments have been shown to be common to a number of addictive behaviours and may constitute a risk factor for drug abuse and dependence. The aim of this study was to investigate brain activation during response inhibition and...