The cannabis plant contains a number of different cannabinoids, with the two most well-known cannabinoids being tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). A growing number of medical and adult-use cannabis products contain both cannabinoids, leading to new questions about how THC and CBD interact with each other.
A team of researchers based in the Netherlands and the United States recently conducted a study examining the effects of combined THC and CBD usage. The researchers are affiliated with the Centre for Human Drug Research (Leiden), Verdient Science, Tomori Pharmacology, and the University of Vermont.
The results of the team’s study were published by the American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics.
“This clinical trial investigated the hypothesis that CBD counteracts the adverse effects of THC and thereby potentially improves the tolerability of cannabis as an analgesic. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, five-way cross-over trial was performed in 37 healthy volunteers. On each visit, a double-placebo, THC 9 mg with placebo CBD, or THC 9 mg with 10, 30, or 450 mg CBD was administered orally. Psychoactive and analgesic effects were quantified using standardized test batteries. Pharmacokinetic sampling was performed. Data were analyzed using mixed-effects model.” the researchers stated.
“Co-administration of 450 mg CBD did not reduce, but instead significantly increased subjective, psychomotor, cognitive, and autonomous effects of THC (e.g., VAS “Feeling High” by 60.5% (95% CI: 12.7%, 128.5%, P < 0.01)), whereas THC effects with 10 and 30 mg CBD were not significantly different from THC alone. CBD did not significantly enhance THC analgesia at any dose level.” the researchers also stated.
“In a future study, we aim to learn more about the potential phenotypical differences between neuropathic pain patients who respond to cannabinoid-induced analgesia vs. patients for whom cannabinoid-based treatments do not work well.” the researchers concluded.
Cannabis is currently legal for adult use in Uruguay, Canada, Malta, Luxembourg, Canada, and South Africa, in addition to being legal at the state level in the United States as well as in the District of Columbia.
This article first appeared on Internationalcbc.com and is syndicated here with special permission.