Individual Differences in Drug Response

Females are increasingly using cannabis, yet remain underrepresented in preclinical and
clinical cannabinoid research. This female-specific research plan will test the effects of
two recreationally relevant doses of oral THC and placebo in healthy females at two phases of
the menstrual cycle. Acute oral THC will be administered in a double-blind and
counterbalanced design. Menstrual cycle phase will be determined using blood serum analyses
of estradiol and progesterone and self-reported responses. The main hypothesis is circulating
estradiol levels are associated with cardiac, neuroendocrine, and subjective THC response.
The rationale for the presented work is to better understand the risks of cannabis use, in
order to maximize possible medical potential and minimize public health risks. The expected
outcome of this work is a deeper understanding of how circulating estradiol levels may
associate with response to THC and how the physiological response is associated with the
subjective response. Uncovering the individual differences in response to THC will allow for
more preventive action against cannabis-induced anxiety, paranoia, and psychosis.