Men who use cannabis occasionally experience more pronounced effects after smoking it than women with similar consumption habits, even though their blood THC concentrations are roughly the same. This is the conclusion reached by researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). The findings were published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology.
The experiment involved healthy men and women who used cannabis weekly or daily. During three separate sessions, volunteers smoked cannabis containing either a low or high concentration of THC — the plant's psychoactive compound — as well as a placebo version. Participants did not know which version they were given. The researchers also took into account the women's menstrual cycle phases and ruled out the effects of hormonal contraceptives.
Men who used cannabis infrequently reported stronger feelings of intoxication, drowsiness and impaired ability to function normally. They also experienced unpleasant effects, including anxiety, more frequently. A significant increase in heart rate following the use of active cannabis was observed only in this group.
However, men and women who used cannabis regularly responded to it in similar ways. Moreover, men who used cannabis frequently generally had higher THC concentrations in their blood, but experienced weaker subjective effects than men who used it less often.
The authors suggest that women may develop tolerance to cannabis more quickly, meaning they become accustomed to its effects after fewer instances of use. However, this hypothesis still needs to be tested in larger study populations.
The researchers emphasise that the study involved a relatively small number of participants and that some of the findings were preliminary. In addition, the THC doses used were lower than the concentrations found in many cannabis products currently available. Scientists are continuing to investigate the effects of more highly concentrated cannabis and its impact on people over the age of 55.
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