Daily Dose Q&A

2026-03-27

Is the effect of THC on mood dependent upon the dose of THC?

Yes - "Evidence from pre-clinical AND clinical studies suggests that THC exhibits biphasic effects on mood, with low doses of THC having anxiolytic and mood-elevating effects and high doses of THC having anxiogenic and mood-lowering effects."

https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/hc-sc/documents/services/drugs-medication/cannabis/information-medical-practitioners/information-health-care-professionals-cannabis-cannabinoids-eng.pdf

2026-03-26

Dronabinol and nabilone are both synthetic cannabinoids. If a patient were to take either of these FDA-approved medications, would the patient's urine toxicology screen be positive for THC?

Dronabinol (Marinol) is chemically synthesized delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). In contrast, nabilone (Cesamet®) is a synthetic cannabinoid. Nabilone does not metabolize to delta-9-THC or a THC metabolite that would result in a positive drug screen. Therefore, the use of nabilone is not a valid explanation for a positive confirmed drug test, while dronabinol use would be a possible reason for a positive THC drug screen.

Medical Review Officer Manual https://5y1.org/info/correction-officer-primary-duties_4_5a71a2.html

2026-03-25

Respiratory depression is associated with the overdose of opioids or benzodiazepines. Is respiratory depression associated with an overdose of cannabinoids? Why or why not?

Respiratory depression is not associated with cannabinoid use in adults because CB1 receptors are not located in the midbrain, the part of the brain responsible for respiratory drive. A note of caution - in cases of pediatric intoxication, severe respiratory depression requiring intubation does occur.

Levinsohn EA, Hill KP. Clinical uses of cannabis and cannabinoids in the United States. J Neurol Sci. 2020 Apr 15;411:116717. doi: 10.1016/j.jns.2020.116717. Epub 2020 Jan 30. PMID: 32044684. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32044684/

2026-03-24

Provide some reasons why the effects of cannabinoids vary among individuals.

There are many reasons why the effects of cannabinoids vary among individuals. SOME of the reasons are: diet, age, health of the patient, and co-administered medications may impact metabolism and efficacy of cannabinoid-based products. Also, some patients have a genetic profile such that they are predisposed to experience side effects (for ex., exacerbation of a psychotic disorder/schizophrenia) after exposure to THC. In addition, patients that have been consuming cannabinoid-based products long-term react differently than patients who have never consumed cannabinoid-based products.

Grotenhermen F. Clinical pharmacokinetics of cannabinoids. J Cannabis Ther, 2003; 3(1): 3-51. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1300/J175v03n01_02. Huestis MA. Human cannabinoid pharmacokinetics. Chem Biodivers. 2007;4(8):1770-804. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2689518/

2026-03-23

Even if an individual employs the same mode of administration over time, the effects of cannabinoids may change for that individual. Provide some reasons why this may be so.

The effects of cannabinoids may change over time due to multiple factors, including: 1. tolerance to the cannabinoids may develop 2. change in the patient's health status/ medical condition may change over time and lead to physiological changes in the endocannabinoid system (For example, inflammation impacts the ECS. Also, impaired G.I./liver function affects the absorption and metabolism of cannabinoids.) 3. The patient may start or stop taking a medication that interacts with cannabinoids or affects the metabolism of the cannabinoid-based product. 4. Physiologic changes in the endocannabinoid system take place as patients age.