2023 Author: Bryan Walter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-21 22:24
Sergei Prokudin-Gorsky, 1910
Subjective sensations and cognitive impairments when consuming hemp concentrate are the same as those from its dried flowers, although the content of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol in them is several times less. Since in the first case, the concentration of the active substance in the blood after consumption is significantly higher, the authors of the article published in JAMA Psychiatry believe that in the long term, the concentrate can do more harm to health.
The use of marijuana, or cannabis, for non-medical purposes is banned almost all over the world, but in several countries this psychoactive substance can be purchased freely or with a prescription. There are a number of studies on the effects of cannabis, but laboratories usually study the effects of samples with low levels of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC, the most active substance in marijuana), and the results of these studies cannot be directly applied to products sold on the legal market. Marijuana is available in two forms: as dried hemp flowers or cannabis concentrate; the THC content in flowers does not exceed 30 percent, and in concentrates it reaches 70-90 percent. The difference between the effects of these two forms has been little studied: it is unclear whether the type of product and the concentration of THC in it affects subjective feelings and side effects.
A group of researchers from the University of Colorado, led by Cinnamon Bidwell, compared the effects of cannabis flowers (THC concentration of 16 or 24 percent) and cannabis concentrate (70 or 90 percent). For the study, 133 volunteers were recruited: 64 of them regularly consumed dried hemp, and 69 - the concentrate. After using marijuana in their usual way, the participants had a blood test, a questionnaire about drunkenness and mood, performed several cognitive tests and a balance check. The participants in the experiment underwent the same procedures before taking marijuana and an hour after.
After using cannabis, the level of THC in the blood rose sharply and returned to baseline after an hour. The volunteers who consumed the hemp concentrate had an average THC level of 1,016 micrograms per milliliter, while those who received the hemp flowers had an average THC level of 455 micrograms per milliliter.
The concentration of THC in the blood of volunteers before, immediately after and one hour after using marijuana. Solid lines correspond to the group that took the cannabis concentrate, dotted lines - hemp flowers (blue - lower THC concentration in the product)
Subjective sensations also changed dome-like: at first they sharply intensified, but after an hour they weakened. After consuming cannabis concentrate, participants experienced less tension and energy than hemp flowers, but overall subjective sensations were not significantly different.
Subjective assessment of the level of intoxication (intoxication) before, immediately after and one hour after using marijuana. Solid lines correspond to the group that took the cannabis concentrate, dotted lines - hemp flowers (blue - lower THC concentration in the product)
After using marijuana in the verbal memory test, the volunteers made more mistakes, but improved the results of testing working memory and control of reflex movements. In both the cognitive tasks and the balance test, the scores were almost the same depending on the form of cannabis used or the concentration of THC.
The authors of the work note that due to ethical considerations, they could not randomly assign participants to groups - the habit of using a more or less concentrated form of cannabis could affect the result of the study. It is possible that people who regularly consume cannabis concentrate are less susceptible to THC, or their receptors quickly become saturated with the active ingredient. However, according to the researchers, a higher concentration of THC in the blood in the long term can lead to more severe health effects, although the subjective feelings will not be brighter.
The health effects of marijuana use are controversial. For example, cannabis abuse is one of the risk factors for premature brain aging, but marijuana, on the contrary, rejuvenates the elderly brain.
