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Does CBD mitigate harms of cannabis?
Introduction
Cannabis users who have a low frequency of use have been reported to develop
acute loss of memory and attention with high-THC cannabis preparations, along
with psychotic symptoms. Over more extended periods of use, this could result
in a greater likelihood of psychosis and developing cannabis use disorder.
None of the study participants had a substance use disorder or used synthetic
cannabinoids.
The study participants first inhaled cannabis, following which they completed a
set of cognitive tasks and were assessed for pleasurable effects based on their
enjoyment of chocolate and music compared to baseline. The participants were
then asked to purchase something from a hospital shop.
After this, the study participants were given time for the drug’s effects to wear
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Does CBD mitigate harms of cannabis?
THC exerted the same effects at all ratios, with impaired immediate and
delayed verbal recall as compared to baseline, irrespective of the presence or
ratio of CBD. Herein, THC induced higher rates of intrusive psychotic-like
thoughts, both immediate and delayed.
However, persecutory thoughts did not increase with the use of the drug at any
ratio.
Other tests showed that pleasurable effects or euphoria were evenly distributed,
irrespective of the CBD:THC ratio. In addition, the euphoric feeling did not
correlate with the plasma levels of either compound.
While heart rate increased after inhalation, there were no changes in blood
pressure or temperature. However, coughing during inhalation was significantly
greater with the CBD dose. Moreover, with longer periods required to inhale the
full dose, peak concentrations were reduced at higher CBD:THC ratios.
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Does CBD mitigate harms of cannabis?
Furthermore, the presence of CBD at increasing ratios did not change the
subjective feeling of being high or the pleasurable effects of THC.
The remaining study participants may have been less sensitive to cannabis,
especially CBD, but still registered significant changes in cognitive and
psychological tests.
The primary observation that CBD does not modulate THC's psychotic or
cognitive effects corroborates earlier studies; however, two previous studies
reported a weakening of such effects with CBD. These used larger doses of CBD
that are often greater than those usually present in medicinal or recreational
cannabis. Such doses may require non-inhalation routes of administration.
Conversely, one previous study reported reduced risk with higher CBD:THC
ratios which may be explained by the fact that plants that produce cannabis
with higher ratios do so by producing more CBD at the expense of THC, as both
come from the same precursor compound.
The purported reduced risk from using high CBD varieties may
thus not be an effect of the high CBD content, but due to the
relatively low THC content.”
The study findings show that CBD offers no protection against the acute effects
of THC; however, its potential long-term protection remains to be studied.
Meanwhile, it appears that CBD content is not a critical factor in regulating or
defining cannabis formulations and may not alleviate the adverse effects of
THC.
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Does CBD mitigate harms of cannabis?
Journal reference:
Englund, A., Oliver, D., Chesney, E., et al. (2022). Does cannabidiol make
cannabis safer? A randomised, double-blind, cross-over trial of cannabis
with four different CBD:THC ratios. Neuropsychopharmacology.
doi:10.1038/s41386-022-01478-z.
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