Scoping review summarizes what lab-based cannabis self-administration studies reveal about use patterns
A scoping review of human laboratory cannabis self-administration studies found these paradigms useful for understanding consumption factors but noted methodological inconsistencies that limit comparability across studies.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Ad libitum cannabis self-administration studies in laboratory settings have identified factors influencing consumption and subjective response, including tolerance, sex differences, and cannabis potency. These paradigms could also test potential CUD medications.
Key Numbers
Multiple laboratory self-administration studies reviewed. Factors identified: tolerance effects, sex differences, potency influences on consumption patterns.
How They Did This
Scoping review summarizing existing human laboratory studies where participants could self-administer cannabis ad libitum. Examined what factors have been studied and what has been learned.
Why This Research Matters
Understanding why people use cannabis and how much they consume under controlled conditions helps develop treatments for cannabis use disorder and inform harm reduction strategies.
The Bigger Picture
Laboratory self-administration paradigms have been valuable for studying alcohol and other drugs. Applying these methods to cannabis could accelerate medication development for CUD, a condition with no approved pharmacotherapy.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Laboratory settings do not replicate real-world use contexts. Ethical constraints limit who can participate and what doses can be studied. Methodological inconsistencies across studies limit meta-analytic synthesis. Small study samples typical.
Questions This Raises
- ?Could standardized laboratory self-administration protocols become a platform for screening CUD medications?
- ?Would these paradigms capture the effects of modern high-potency cannabis products?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Lab self-administration studies reveal tolerance, sex, and potency effects on cannabis consumption
- Evidence Grade:
- Scoping review mapping a specialized research area. Identifies themes but does not quantitatively synthesize findings.
- Study Age:
- Published 2023.
- Original Title:
- Cannabis self-administration in the human laboratory: a scoping review of ad libitum studies.
- Published In:
- Psychopharmacology, 240(7), 1393-1415 (2023)
- Authors:
- Xiao, Ke Bin, Grennell, Erin, Ngoy, Anthony, George, Tony P, Le Foll, Bernard, Hendershot, Christian S, Sloan, Matthew E
- Database ID:
- RTHC-05037
Evidence Hierarchy
Analyzes all available research on a topic using a structured method.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
How do researchers study cannabis use in a lab?
In self-administration studies, participants are allowed to use cannabis freely in a controlled laboratory setting while researchers measure how much they consume, how it affects them, and what factors influence their use patterns. These studies help identify what drives cannabis consumption.
Are there medications for cannabis addiction?
Currently, there are no FDA-approved medications for cannabis use disorder. This review suggests that laboratory self-administration studies could be used to screen potential medications, similar to how such paradigms have helped develop treatments for alcohol and opioid use disorders.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-05037APA
Xiao, Ke Bin; Grennell, Erin; Ngoy, Anthony; George, Tony P; Le Foll, Bernard; Hendershot, Christian S; Sloan, Matthew E. (2023). Cannabis self-administration in the human laboratory: a scoping review of ad libitum studies.. Psychopharmacology, 240(7), 1393-1415. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-023-06360-4
MLA
Xiao, Ke Bin, et al. "Cannabis self-administration in the human laboratory: a scoping review of ad libitum studies.." Psychopharmacology, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-023-06360-4
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Cannabis self-administration in the human laboratory: a scop..." RTHC-05037. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/xiao-2023-cannabis-selfadministration-in-the
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.