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

doi:10.1016/j.pbb.2016.01.007

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

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

49 Scopus citations

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 30 mg). 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 5 mg Δ⁹-THC dose, whereas men were more sensitive to the subjective effects of the 15 mg 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.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	44-51
Number of pages	8
Journal	Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior
Volume	152
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pbb.2016.01.007
State	Published - Jan 1 2017

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This research and the preparation of this manuscript were supported by grants awarded to Dr. Joshua Lile (National Institute on Drug Abuse [NIDA] grants K01 DA018772, K02 DA031766, R01 DA025605 and R01 DA036550), a NIDA T32 training grant DA035200, and a National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences grant awarded to the University of Kentucky Center for Clinical and Translational Science (UL1TR000117). These sponsors were not directly involved in the study design, collection, analysis and interpretation of the data, the writing of the report or the decision to submit the article for publication.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 Elsevier Inc.

Keywords

Cannabis
Drug-discrimination
Gender
Marijuana
Self-report

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Biochemistry
Toxicology
Pharmacology
Clinical Biochemistry
Biological Psychiatry
Behavioral Neuroscience

Access to Document

10.1016/j.pbb.2016.01.007

Cite this

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title = "Sex differences in the subjective effects of oral Δ9-THC in cannabis users",

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 30 mg). 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 5 mg Δ9-THC dose, whereas men were more sensitive to the subjective effects of the 15 mg 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.",

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author = "Fogel, {Jessica S.} and Kelly, {Thomas H.} and Westgate, {Philip M.} and Lile, {Joshua A.}",

note = "Funding Information: This research and the preparation of this manuscript were supported by grants awarded to Dr. Joshua Lile (National Institute on Drug Abuse [NIDA] grants K01 DA018772, K02 DA031766, R01 DA025605 and R01 DA036550), a NIDA T32 training grant DA035200, and a National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences grant awarded to the University of Kentucky Center for Clinical and Translational Science (UL1TR000117). These sponsors were not directly involved in the study design, collection, analysis and interpretation of the data, the writing of the report or the decision to submit the article for publication. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2015 Elsevier Inc.",

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