The effects of orally administered delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol in man on mood and performance measures: a dose-response study.

A dose-response study of the effect of orally administered delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on human mood and skills performance was conducted. Using five dose levels of THC (0, 5, 10, 15, 20 mg) with 16 volunteers per dosage group, mood and performance measures were recorded at five testing occasions, one before and four after drug administration. The slope of the linear regression of performance on the test battery was significant for up to 200 minutes after dosage. That is to say, oral THC, at the doses used, produced significant dose-dependent impairment of performance for a period in excess of three hours. A similar time course for the effect of THC on the subjective assessment of intoxication ('stone') suggested a correlation between drug-induced impairment skills and the effects on mood.