Cannabidiol Attenuates the Appetitive Effects of Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol in Humans Smoking Their Chosen Cannabis

Abstract

Worldwide cannabis dependence is increasing, as is the concentration of Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in street cannabis. At the same time, the concentration of the second most abundant cannabinoid in street cannabis, cannabidiol (CBD), is decreasing. These two cannabinoids have opposing effects both pharmacologically and behaviorally when administered in the laboratory. No research has yet examined how the ratio of these constituents impacts on the appetitive/reinforcing effects of cannabis in humans. A total of 94 cannabis users were tested 7 days apart, once while non-intoxicated and once while acutely under the influence of their own chosen smoked cannabis on dependence-related measures. Using an unprecedented methodology, a sample of cannabis (as well as saliva) was collected from each user and analyzed for levels of cannabinoids. On the basis of CBD : THC ratios in the cannabis, individuals from the top and bottom tertiles were directly compared on indices of the reinforcing effects of drugs, explicit liking, and implicit attentional bias to drug stimuli. When intoxicated, smokers of high CBD : THC strains showed reduced attentional bias to drug and food stimuli compared with smokers of low CBD : THC. Those smoking higher CBD : THC strains also showed lower self-rated liking of cannabis stimuli on both test days. Our findings suggest that CBD has potential as a treatment for cannabis dependence. The acute modulation of the incentive salience of drug cues by CBD may possibly generalize to a treatment for other addictive disorders.

Oral Cannabidiol does not Alter the Subjective, Reinforcing or Cardiovascular Effects of Smoked Cannabis

“…Yet most studies show that neither smoked, vaporized nor oral CBD alters THC's positive subjective effects, such as feeling 'high' or 'stoned' (Juckel et al, 2007;Roser et al, 2009;Morgan et al, 2010;see Zhornitsy and Potvin, 2012;Hindocha et al, 2015). There are several explanations for this lack of consistency.…”

“…For example, the subjective effects of nabiximols (oromucosal spray containing equal parts CBD and THC) did not differ from a comparable dose of oral THC alone (Schoedel et Oral cannabidiol and smoked cannabis M Haney et al did not alter ratings of 'stoned' following vaporized THC administration (Hindocha et al, 2015); and, cannabis smoked naturalistically (participant's own self-selected marijuana) with high CBD did not produce different ratings of 'stoned' than cannabis with low CBD concentrations (Morgan et al, 2010). Furthermore, there was no indication that cannabis bred to contain different levels of CBD (0.2, 1.0%) altered the subjective, physiological, or performance effects of smoked cannabis with varying THC concentrations (1.8, 3.6% THC; Ilan et al, 2005).…”

Early Phase in the Development of Cannabidiol as a Treatment for Addiction: Opioid Relapse Takes Initial Center Stage

“…The same investigative team has also evaluated CBD in relation to cannabis abuse. In naturalistic studies conducted with cannabis users, the concentration of CBD in smoked cannabis did not attenuate psychomimetic symptoms in participants when they were acutely intoxicated [80]; however, CBD reduced Bwanting^and Bliking^of cannabis-related stimuli [81]. Additionally, a case report in 1 patient indicated that CBD might reduce withdrawal symptoms and the amount of cannabis smoked upon resumption of cannabis use, but no systematic study has been conducted in relation to CBD and cannabis relapse behavior.…”

Cannabidiol as a Potential Treatment for Anxiety Disorders

“…Epidemiological studies of various neuropsychiatric disorders indicate that a higher CBD content in chronically consumed cannabis may protect against adverse effects of THC, including psychotic symptoms, drug cravings, memory loss, and hippocampal gray matter loss [115][116][117][118] (reviewed in [119]). As THC acutely induces anxiety, this pattern may also be evident for chronic anxiety symptoms.…”