Abstract
Objectives: The central effects of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), the primary active constituent of cannabis, are attributed to cannabinoid CB1 receptor activity, although clinical evidence is limited. Drug discrimination has proven useful for examining the neuropharmacology of drugs, as data are concordant with the actions of a drug at the receptor level. The aim of this study was to determine the profile of behavioral and physiological effects of the cannabinoid agonist nabilone in humans trained to discriminate Δ9-THC. Methods: Six cannabis users learned to identify when they received oral Δ9-THC (25 mg) or placebo and then received a range of doses of the cannabinoid agonists nabilone (1, 2, 3, and 5 mg) and Δ9-THC (5, 10, 15, and 25 mg). The dopamine reuptake inhibitor methylphenidate (5, 10, 20, and 30 mg) was included as a negative control. Subjects completed the Multiple-Choice Procedure, and self-report, task performance, and physiological measures were collected. Results: Nabilone shared discriminative-stimulus effects with the training dose of Δ9-THC, produced subject-rated drug effects that were comparable to those of Δ9-THC, and increased heart rate. Methylphenidate did not engender Δ9-THC-like discriminative-stimulus effects. Conclusions: These data demonstrate that the interoceptive effects of nabilone are similar to Δ9-THC in cannabis users. The overlap in their behavioral effects is likely due to their shared mechanism as CB1 receptor agonists. Given the relative success of agonist replacement therapy to manage opioid, tobacco, and stimulant dependence, these results also support the evaluation of nabilone as a potential medication for cannabis-use disorders.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 235-242 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Clinical Neuropharmacology |
Volume | 33 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Sep 2010 |
Keywords
- cannabis
- drug discrimination
- marijuana
- nabilone
- subjective effects
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pharmacology
- Clinical Neurology
- Pharmacology (medical)