Synthetic cannabinoid JWH-018 impairs cognition and triggers dissociation in some users
The synthetic cannabinoid JWH-018 impaired tracking ability and memory in all participants, but those who experienced a subjective high also showed slower reaction times, confusion, amnesia, and dissociative symptoms.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
JWH-018 increased heart rate and impaired critical tracking and memory performance overall. Participants who experienced a subjective high ("responders") had significantly higher serum JWH-018 concentrations and showed additional impairments in reaction time plus increased confusion, amnesia, dissociation, derealization, and depersonalization. Lack of control over drug delivery may have contributed to the large variability in response.
Key Numbers
17 participants. Doses: 2-6.2 mg JWH-018. 12-hour monitoring. Responders had significantly higher serum concentrations. Impairments in critical tracking and memory across all participants.
How They Did This
Placebo-controlled, crossover study with 17 healthy cannabis-experienced participants. Participants inhaled vaporized JWH-018 (2-6.2 mg) and were monitored for 12 hours with vital signs, cognitive tests, and subjective experience measures.
Why This Research Matters
Synthetic cannabinoids are often marketed as legal alternatives to cannabis but may carry distinct risks. This controlled study documents specific cognitive and psychological effects under laboratory conditions.
The Bigger Picture
The dissociative symptoms (derealization, depersonalization) reported by responders are not typical of natural cannabis and may help explain emergency department presentations from synthetic cannabinoid use.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Small sample size (17). Variability in drug delivery by vaporization. All participants had prior cannabis experience, so results may not generalize to naive users.
Questions This Raises
- ?How do JWH-018 effects compare to natural cannabis at equivalent receptor activation?
- ?What accounts for the large individual variability in response?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Dissociation and amnesia in responders
- Evidence Grade:
- Controlled crossover design with objective measures, but small sample and variable drug delivery.
- Study Age:
- 2019 study.
- Original Title:
- Neurocognition and Subjective Experience Following Acute Doses of the Synthetic Cannabinoid JWH-018: Responders Versus Nonresponders.
- Published In:
- Cannabis and cannabinoid research, 4(1), 51-61 (2019)
- Authors:
- Theunissen, Eef L(8), Hutten, Nadia R P W(5), Mason, Natasha L(4), Toennes, Stefan W, Kuypers, Kim P C, Ramaekers, Johannes G
- Database ID:
- RTHC-02317
Evidence Hierarchy
Participants are randomly assigned to treatment or placebo groups to test cause and effect.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Are synthetic cannabinoids more dangerous than natural cannabis?
This study found JWH-018 produced dissociation, derealization, and depersonalization in some users, effects not typically associated with natural cannabis, suggesting distinct risk profiles.
Does JWH-018 impair driving ability?
JWH-018 impaired critical tracking, memory, and reaction time, all of which are relevant to driving. The effects were most pronounced in those who achieved higher blood concentrations.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-02317APA
Theunissen, Eef L; Hutten, Nadia R P W; Mason, Natasha L; Toennes, Stefan W; Kuypers, Kim P C; Ramaekers, Johannes G. (2019). Neurocognition and Subjective Experience Following Acute Doses of the Synthetic Cannabinoid JWH-018: Responders Versus Nonresponders.. Cannabis and cannabinoid research, 4(1), 51-61. https://doi.org/10.1089/can.2018.0047
MLA
Theunissen, Eef L, et al. "Neurocognition and Subjective Experience Following Acute Doses of the Synthetic Cannabinoid JWH-018: Responders Versus Nonresponders.." Cannabis and cannabinoid research, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1089/can.2018.0047
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Neurocognition and Subjective Experience Following Acute Dos..." RTHC-02317. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/theunissen-2019-neurocognition-and-subjective-experience
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.