Heavy use of marijuana is claimed to damage critical skills related to short-term memory, visual scanning and attention. Motor skills and driving safety may be compromised by the acute effects of marijuana. The aim of this study was to investigate the acute effects of 13 mg and 17 mg Delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on skills important for coordinated movement and driving and on subjective an...

Introduction: Cannabidiol (CBD) can convert to Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in vitro with prolonged exposure to simulated gastric fluid; however, in vitro conditions may not be representative of the in vivo gut environment. Using the minipig, we investigated whether enteral CBD converts to THC in vivo. Materials and Methods: Synthetic CBD (100 mg/mL) was administered orally in a sesame oil for...

Repeated THC administration produces motivational and somatic adaptive changes leading to dependence in rodents. To investigate the molecular basis for cannabinoid dependence and its possible relationship with the endogenous opioid system, we explored 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) activity in mice lacking -, or -opioid receptor genes. Acute THCinduced hypothermia, antinociception, and hypolocomo...

BACKGROUND Generally, urinary 11-nor-9-carboxy-Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THCCOOH) after alkaline hydrolysis is monitored to detect cannabis exposure, although last use may have been weeks prior in chronic cannabis users. Delta9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and 11-hydroxy-THC (11-OH-THC) concentrations in urine following Escherichia coli beta-glucuronidase hydrolysis were proposed as biomarkers...

BACKGROUND Oral fluid (OF) testing is increasingly important for drug treatment, workplace, and drugged-driving programs. There is interest in predicting plasma or whole-blood concentrations from OF concentrations; however, the relationship between these matrices is incompletely characterized because of few controlled drug-administration studies. METHODS Ten male daily cannabis smokers receiv...

Absorption and metabolism of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) vary as a function of route of administration. Pulmonary assimilation of inhaled THC causes a maximum plasma concentration within minutes, while psychotropic effects start within seconds to a few minutes, reach a maximum after 15 to 30 minutes, and taper off within 2 to 3 hours. Following oral ingestion, psychotropic effects set in with a ...

The human liver enzyme microsomal alcohol oxygenase was able to oxidize both 7aand 7b-hydroxy-D-tetrahydrocannabinol (7aand 7b-hydroxy-D-THC) to 7-oxo-D-THC. The oxidative activity was determined by using a panel of 12 individual cDNA-expressed human cytochrome P450s (CYPs) (1A1, 1A2, 2A6, 2B6, 2C8, 2C9Arg, 2C9-Cys, 2C19, 2D6-Met, 2D6-Val, 2E1 and 3A4). Among the CYP isoforms examined, CYP3A4 s...

Chronic D-tetrahydrocannabinol (D-THC) administration produces tolerance to cannabinoid effects, but alterations in signal transduction that mediate these changes are not yet known. The present study uses in vitro autoradiography of agoniststimulated [S]GTPgS binding to localize cannabinoid receptor-activated G-proteins after chronic D-THC treatment. Cannabinoid (WIN 55212-2)-stimulated [S]GTPg...

Synthetic ∆ 9 -tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), pharmaceutical grade herbal cannabis as well as formulations of well-defined cannabis extracts are available as registered medicines in several countries. It is generally accepted that the main central and peripheral pharmacological effects of THC are mediated by CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors. Cytochrome P450-mediated oxidations of THC afford the n...

stituent of marijuana, Cannabis sativa L. It is well known that THC is oxidized to a number of metabolites in the liver of mammals. Recent studies have clarified that P450 plays a major role in the oxidation of THC. We have previously reported that a hepatic microsomal enzyme, named microsomal alcohol oxygenase (MALCO), is able to oxidize 7aand 7b-hydroxy-D-THC to 7-oxo-D-THC in the presence of...