Psychedelics

Study finds stronger marijuana doesn’t lead to higher levels of intoxication

Study finds stronger marijuana doesn’t lead to higher levels of intoxication
A study has found no differences in intoxication or impairment between those smoking high-THC concentrates and those smoking lower-THC flowers
A study has found no differences in intoxication or impairment between those smoking high-THC concentrates and those smoking lower-THC flowers
View 1 Image
A study has found no differences in intoxication or impairment between those smoking high-THC concentrates and those smoking lower-THC flowers
1/1
A study has found no differences in intoxication or impairment between those smoking high-THC concentrates and those smoking lower-THC flowers

A new study led by a team from the University of Colorado, Boulder, has found smoking high-THC marijuana or concentrates does not result in greater levels of intoxication. The research adds weight to a growing body of evidence suggesting proposed roadside THC tests may not correlate specifically with driving impairment.

Using mobile laboratories, dubbed "cannavans" by the researchers, 121 regular cannabis users were assessed after smoking either a THC concentrate or a marijuana flower. The flower smokers consumed product containing either 16 or 24 percent THC, while the concentrate users compared 70- and 90-percent THC products.

All subjects had blood taken at three time points during the experiment – before smoking cannabis, immediately following consumption, and one hour later. Subjects also self reported intoxication levels and conducted cognitive function and balance tests at all three time points.

“Surprisingly, we found that potency did not track with intoxication levels,” says Cinnamon Bidwell, lead author on the new study. “While we saw striking differences in blood levels between the two groups, they were similarly impaired.”

Those consuming the high-potency concentrate registered significantly high blood THC levels in the minutes after smoking, on average more than 1,000 micrograms per milliliter compared to those smoking the flower, averaging around 455 micrograms per milliliter. Strikingly, all the subjects reported similar subjective feelings of intoxication and achieved similar results on balance and cognitive function tests, regardless of what kind of cannabis they consumed or how strong their product of choice was.

“People in the high concentration group were much less compromised than we thought they were going to be,” explains Kent Hutchison, co-author on the study. “If we gave people that high a concentration of alcohol it would have been a different story.”

The absence of any correlation between THC blood levels and intoxication surprised the researchers. Alcohol, for example, provides a distinct association between blood concentration levels and impairment. The more alcohol one drinks, the higher their blood alcohol level, and the more visibly intoxicated they become. However, THC doesn’t seem to offer the same reliable impairment curve, and the study hypothesizes several reasons why this may be the case.

Tolerance to the effects of THC is the most obvious explanation, but the study suggests tolerance does not explain the entirety of the mystery. “Another possibility,” the researchers hypothesize in the published paper, “is that cannabinoid receptors may become saturated with THC (a cannabinoid receptor 1 partial agonist) at higher levels, beyond which there is a diminishing effect of additional THC.”

The huge discordancy between THC blood levels and subjective impairment means it will be challenging for authorities to roll out some kind of roadside THC test. While blood alcohol is easily measured through a breathalyzer, and higher levels comfortably correlate with impairment, this study affirms prior research suggesting THC blood levels can vary wildly from person to person and do not consistently correlate with impairment.

Interestingly, a unique balance test was conducted by the researchers as part of this study, and a small degree of balance impairment turned out to be the most consistent short-term sign of performance impairment across all the subjects. An 11-percent increase in sway, during an eyes-closed balance test, was seen immediately following cannabis consumption across all subjects. This balance impairment returned to normal by the one-hour follow-up suggesting this kind of balance test may be a useful way to measure cannabis intoxication, similar to the field sobriety tests currently used to identify alcohol-impaired drivers.

Hutchison does point out the study raises several novel questions that future research will need to address. Particularly, it is unclear what the long-term effect of concentrated high-THC exposure has on regular users.

“Does long-term, concentrated exposure mess with your cannabinoid receptors in a way that could have long-term repercussions? Does it make it harder to quit when you want to?” asks Hutchison. “We just don’t know yet.”

The new study was published in the journal JAMA Psychiatry.

Source: UC Boulder

5 comments
5 comments
DavidB
I wonder what impact this will have on makers and sellers of cannabis products: Do they (and, if so, will they continue to) charge different prices for low- and high-THC products?

I look forward to chatting with my local proprietor, once in-store chats are again feasible.
WalterBoehme
If the study had looked at the difference between the old 5 - 6% flower, vs the 20+% new breeds, there would have been a huge difference. In the 'old days' my wife and I could smoke 3 - 4 joints before bed. Now, we're lucky if we can do one. Any more and we'd be asleep on the couch! And to Mr Hutchison, there are NO withdrawal symptoms from marijuana, high potency or low. Been proven many times. And to DavidB, our local dispensary charges by how long it takes to grow, not on the potency. Wierd, I know, but that's how they do it.
Joe Perez
Can't smoke the weed when doing a dumb experiment..
Lmfaoff...
Yea that's why everybody buys sh*tty weed for less money
Jonathan Rumbolt
You should try the study again with a 2 hour even 3 break between consuming THC what iv noticed from smoking weed is that you can only get high once a day. Anything extra or more you smoke that day your wasting it because you get no additional effect from it.
NoName4Now
DB & WB: I, too, thought THC levels would determine price, but time to grow might be the bigger factor. If there are two identical plants, but one takes 6 months to grow whereas the other takes 4 weeks, the slower plant would not be worth growing unless it commanded a higher selling price.
On the other hand, if strong weed is more desirable, it will command a premium over weak weed. Or said differently; weak weed will sell at a discount to strong weed.
JR: It never occurred to me, but I think you are entirely correct! I noticed if you don't maintain a buzz, you can NOT regain it once it fades. That's more or less what you are saying I think?