Citation

Wright MJ, Vandewater SA, Taffe MA. Br. J. Pharmacol. 2013; 170(7): 1365-1373.

Affiliation

Committee on the Neurobiology of Addictive Disorders; The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/bph.12199

PMID

23550724

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Recent human studies suggest that recreational cannabis strains that are relatively high in cannabidiol (CBD) content produce less cognitive impairment than do strains with negligible CBD and similar Δ(9) tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content. Self-selection in such studies means it is impossible to rule out additional variables which may determine both cannabis strain selection and basal cognitive performance level. Controlled laboratory studies can better determine a direct relationship. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: In this study, adult male rhesus monkeys were assessed on visuo-spatial Paired-Associates Learning and self-ordered spatial search memory tasks, as well as additional tests of motivation and manual dexterity. Subjects were challenged with THC (0.2, 0.5 mg/kg, i.m.) in randomized order and evaluated in the presence or absence of 0.5 mg/kg CBD. KEY RESULTS: CBD attenuated the effects of THC on paired-associates learning and a bimanual motor task without affecting the detrimental effects of THC on a self-ordered spatial search task of working memory. CBD did not significantly reverse THC-induced impairment of a progressive ratio or a rotating turntable task. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: This study provides direct evidence that CBD can oppose the cognitive impairing effects of THC, it does so in a task-selective manner, when administered simultaneously and at a 1:1 ratio with THC. The addition of CBD to THC-containing therapeutic products may therefore help to ameliorate unwanted cognitive side-effects.

Language: en