Bruna Brands1, Robert E Mann2, Christine M Wickens2, Beth Sproule3, Gina Stoduto4, Gillian S Sayer5, Jillian Burston5, Jie Fei Pan5, Justin Matheson5, Cristiana Stefan6, Tony P George7, Marilyn A Huestis8, Jürgen Rehm9, Bernard Le Foll10. 1. Controlled Substances Directorate, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, 27 King's College Circle, Toronto, Ontario, M5S3H7, Canada; Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 33 Russell Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5S2S1, Canada. Electronic address: Bruna.Brands@canada.ca. 2. Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 33 Russell Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5S2S1, Canada; Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, 155 College Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5T3M7, Canada. 3. Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, 144 College Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5S3M2, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, 250 College Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5T1R8, Canada; Pharmacy, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 1001 Queen Street, Toronto, Ontario, M6J1H4, Canada. 4. Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 33 Russell Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5S2S1, Canada. 5. Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, 27 King's College Circle, Toronto, Ontario, M5S3H7, Canada; Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 33 Russell Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5S2S1, Canada. 6. Clinical Laboratory and Diagnostic Services, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 100 Stokes Street, Toronto, Ontario, M6J1H4, Canada. 7. Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, 250 College Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5T1R8, Canada; Addictions Division, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 100 Stokes Street, Toronto, Ontario, M6J1H4, Canada. 8. The Lambert Center for the Study of Medicinal Cannabis and Hemp, Thomas Jefferson University, 1020 Walnut Street Philadelphia, PA 19107, United States. 9. Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 33 Russell Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5S2S1, Canada; Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, 155 College Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5T3M7, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, 250 College Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5T1R8, Canada. 10. Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, 27 King's College Circle, Toronto, Ontario, M5S3H7, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, 250 College Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5T1R8, Canada; Translational Addiction Research Laboratory, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 33 Russell Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5S2S1, Canada; Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, 500 University Avenue, 5th Floor, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1V7, Canada; Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Room 2374, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1A8, Canada.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Although driving under the influence of cannabis is increasingly common among young adults, little is known about residual effects on driver behavior. This study examined acute and residual effects of smoked cannabis on simulated driving performance of young cannabis users. METHODS: In this double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group randomized clinical trial, cannabis users (1-4 days/week) aged 19-25 years were randomized with a 2:1 allocation ratio to receive active (12.5% THC) or placebo (0.009% THC) cannabis in a single 750 mg cigarette. A median split (based on whole-blood THC concentrations at the time of driving) was used to divide the active group into low and high THC groups. Our primary outcome was simulated driving performance, assessed 30 min and 24 and 48 h after smoking. Secondary outcomes included blood THC concentrations, subjective drug effects, and heart rate. RESULTS:Ninety-six participants were randomized, and 91 were included in the final analysis (30 high THC, 31 low THC, 30placebo). Mean speed (but not lateral control) significantly differed between groups 30 min after smoking cannabis (p ≤ 0.02); low and high THC groups decreased their speed compared to placebo. Heart rate, VAS drug effect and drug high increased significantly immediately after smoking cannabis and declined steadily after that. There was little evidence of residual effects in any of the measures. CONCLUSION: Acutely, cannabis caused decreased speed, increased heart rate, and increases in VAS drug effect and drug high. There was no evidence of residual effects on these measures over the two days following cannabis administration.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: Although driving under the influence of cannabis is increasingly common among young adults, little is known about residual effects on driver behavior. This study examined acute and residual effects of smoked cannabis on simulated driving performance of young cannabis users. METHODS: In this double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group randomized clinical trial, cannabis users (1-4 days/week) aged 19-25 years were randomized with a 2:1 allocation ratio to receive active (12.5% THC) or placebo (0.009% THC) cannabis in a single 750 mg cigarette. A median split (based on whole-blood THC concentrations at the time of driving) was used to divide the active group into low and high THC groups. Our primary outcome was simulated driving performance, assessed 30 min and 24 and 48 h after smoking. Secondary outcomes included blood THC concentrations, subjective drug effects, and heart rate. RESULTS: Ninety-six participants were randomized, and 91 were included in the final analysis (30 high THC, 31 low THC, 30 placebo). Mean speed (but not lateral control) significantly differed between groups 30 min after smoking cannabis (p ≤ 0.02); low and high THC groups decreased their speed compared to placebo. Heart rate, VAS drug effect and drug high increased significantly immediately after smoking cannabis and declined steadily after that. There was little evidence of residual effects in any of the measures. CONCLUSION: Acutely, cannabis caused decreased speed, increased heart rate, and increases in VAS drug effect and drug high. There was no evidence of residual effects on these measures over the two days following cannabis administration.
Authors: Ali Shahidi Zandi; Felix J E Comeau; Robert E Mann; Patricia Di Ciano; Eliyas P Arslan; Thomas Murphy; Bernard Le Foll; Christine M Wickens Journal: Cannabis Cannabinoid Res Date: 2021-08-24
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Authors: Ashley Brooks-Russell; Tim Brown; Kyle Friedman; Julia Wrobel; John Schwarz; Gregory Dooley; Karen A Ryall; Benjamin Steinhart; Elise Amioka; Gary Milavetz; George Sam Wang; Michael J Kosnett Journal: Accid Anal Prev Date: 2021-08-14
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