ACUTE EFFECTS OF MARIJUANA SMOKING ON AGGRESSIVE, ESCAPE AND POINT-MAINTAINED RESPONDING OF MALE DRUG-USERS

Aggressive, escape and point-maintained operant responding of male mar ijuana smokers were measured during six 25-min sessions conducted over an 8-h experimental day. Aggressive responding ostensibly subtracted points exchangeable for money from another subject. Escape responding protected the subject's counter from point subtractions initiated by t he other subject for some period of time. Aggressive and escape respon ding were engendered by subtracting points from the subjects and maint ained by initiation of intervals free of point subtractions. Point sub tractions presented to the subjects were attributed to other persons. Subjects earned points exchangeable for money on a third response opti on. Subjects participated in one session prior to smoking and five ses sions after smoking. Subjects smoked placebo or three different potenc ies of active marijuana cigarettes. Marijuana smoking effects on escap e responding were not significant and depended upon the frequency of p rovocation. Point-maintained responding was decreased after marijuana smoking. Aggressive responding was increased for the first hour after smoking and returned to placebo levels later in the day. These effects of marijuana smoking on aggressive responding are discussed in terms of subject characteristics, particularly drug use history.