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Did you know the gender of a marijuana user can impact the dosage of THC needed for certain acute effects?
According to a new cannabis study published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology, women tend to experience the same acute effects as men with a lower dose of THC.
Acute effects occur immediately after consuming marijuana and vary by user, but can be impacted by alcohol, experience, age and now gender.
How was the research conducted?
Researchers conducted a study with 91 participants between the ages of 19 and 25 took part in the study. Participants were also selected for their smoking habits, and typically consuming cannabis one to four times per week. Researchers asked users to smoke a cannabis cigarette with either 12.5% THC or a placebo.
Participants were asked to smoke as much of that cigarette as they wanted to. During the study, users had their THC levels in their blood and their vital signs closely monitored before completing subjective effect scales and cognitive tests.
What did the research conclude?
The researchers discovered that women smoked for the same duration as men, although they smoked less of the cannabis cigarette. The female participants had less levels of THC levels in their blood, causing researchers to conclude that women may need a lower dose of THC to get to the same degree of intoxication as men. There were no apparent differences in mood or cognitive effects between men and women
Although there is still additional research needed, it is believed that estrogen, a female hormone, could influence the metabolism of THC. Additionally, gender identity, - like stereotypes, societal expectations and ease of access - may impact the results.
What are the next steps?
Like all research, this study came with limitations. For example, women have been excluded from research studies for much of history, causing findings to be biased towards males. However, researchers are confident that this study is a step in the right direction for understanding the influence sex and gender play in the acute effects of cannabis.
If you are a Missourian suffering from a qualifying condition, you may be eligible to treat your ailment with medical marijuana, which includes both THC and CBD products.
Click here to learn more about what Missouri Marijuana Card's certified medical marijuana physicians can do for you, or give us a call at 877-303-3117 and our friendly patient support team can walk you through the entire process, and set you up with an appointment through telemedicine.