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- Title
Acceptance of pharmaceutical cannabis substitution by cannabis using patients with schizophrenia.
- Authors
van Amsterdam, Jan; Vervloet, Jojanneke; de Weert, Gerdien; Buwalda, Victor J. A.; Goudriaan, Anna E.; van den Brink, Wim
- Abstract
Background: Cannabis-smoking patients with a psychotic disorder have poorer disease outcomes than non-cannabis-smoking patients with poorest outcomes in patients smoking high-potency cannabis (HPC) containing high Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and low cannabidiol (CBD). Quitting cannabis smoking or substitution of HPC by cannabis variants containing less THC and/or more CBD may benefit these patients. The present study explores whether daily HPC-smoking patients with schizophrenia accept smoking such variants. Methods: Twelve male patients were asked to smoke on six different occasions one joint: on two occasions, the cannabis they routinely smoke (HPC; not blind), and blind in random order; on two occasions, cannabis containing low THC and no CBD; and on two occasions, cannabis containing low THC and high CBD. Results: Both substitute variants were appreciated, but patients preferred the HPC they usually smoked. The effect of the low THC/high CBD variant was reported by 32% to be too short and by 36% to be not strong enough, whereas this was reported by 5% and 64%, respectively, for the low THC cannabis variant. Conclusions: Based on these findings, a larger and longer study on the efficacy of cannabis substitution treatment in HPC-smoking patients with schizophrenia seems feasible and should be considered. Trial registration: 2014-005540-17NL. Registered 22 October 2014, 2014-005540-17NL 20141215 CTA.xml
- Subjects
MARIJUANA abuse; SCHIZOPHRENIA treatment; TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL; CANNABINOIDS; PEOPLE with schizophrenia; SMOKING; SUBSTANCE abuse
- Publication
Harm Reduction Journal, 2018, Vol 15, Issue 1, pN.PAG
- ISSN
1477-7517
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1186/s12954-018-0253-7