SEDATIVE, STIMULANT, AND OTHER SUBJECTIVE EFFECTS OF MARIJUANA - RELATIONSHIPS TO SMOKING TECHNIQUES

A double-blind, placebo-controlled study assessed subjective effects o f smoking marijuana with either a long or short breath-holding duratio n. During eight test sessions, 55 male volunteers made repeated rating s of subjective ''high,'' sedation, and stimulation, as well as rating their perceptions of motivation and performance on cognitive tests. T he major finding of the study was that the long, relative to the short , breath-holding duration increased ''high'' ratings after smoking mar ijuana, but not placebo. Marijuana smoking increased sedation and a pe rception of worsened test performance, and decreased motivation with r espect to test performance. Paradoxical subjective effects were observ ed in that subjects reported some stimulation as well as sedation afte r smoking marijuana, particularly with the long breath-holding duratio n. Breath holding duration did not produce any subjective effects that were independent of the drug treatment, i.e., occurred equally after smoking of marijuana and placebo, such as we previously observed with respect to test performance. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc.