EFFECTS OF Δ 9 ‐THC ON MARIJUANA SMOKING, DOSE CHOICE, AND VERBAL REPORT OF DRUG LIKING

Abstract

The effects of Δ 9 ‐tetrahydrocannabinol content of marijuana on cigarette smoking, dose choice, and verbal report of drug “liking” by adult males living in a residential laboratory were investigated. Marijuana cigarettes were available during programmed intervals while subjects were engaged in recreational activities. The tetrahydrocannabinol content of the cigarettes remained constant each day, but was changed across days. Subjects provided written ratings of drug liking at the end of each day. In the first study, placebo or active (2.3% Δ 9 ‐tetrahydrocannabinol) marijuana cigarettes were available for 1‐, 2‐, or 3‐day intervals at varying times of day. The number of cigarettes smoked was unrelated to tetrahydrocannabinol content, although verbal reports of drug liking were consistently higher when marijuana cigarettes containing tetrahydrocannabinol were smoked. In a second study, a choice procedure, consisting of four 3‐day blocks of 2 sample days and 1 choice day, was used. On sampling days, subjects smoked cigarettes varying in tetrahydrocannabinol content (0.0, 2.0, and 3.5%, w/w); on choice days they were allowed to choose between the two previously sampled doses. The number of cigarettes was not consistently related to tetrahydrocannabinol content. Ratings of drug liking were increased when marijuana cigarettes contained tetrahydrocannabinol, but ratings of marijuana containing 2.0% and 3.5% of the compound were similar. In contrast, subjects consistently chose the 3.5% dose over either the 0.0% or 2.0% dose. Dose choice was more sensitive to tetrahydrocannabinol content than either reports of drug liking or numbers of cigarettes smoked.