Are THC Levels in Oral Fluids and Blood Plasma Comparable after Oral Ingestion of Edibles Containing Cannabis or THC?

[摘要] Cannabis and its products are the most widely used illicit drugs world-wide, with the majority of countries currently harboring consumers and producers. Medicalization and legalization of the drug have gained traction in a number of countries, despite mounting evidence of the potential hazards associated with its use (1–3). In the US, cannabis legalization has been approved in 8 states and the District of Columbia, with the majority of other states permitting dispensaries to sell cannabis or cannabidiol (CBD)-enriched2 cannabis preparations for medicinal uses. Dispensary and legal cannabis are available in a broad range of products, including those that can be smoked, inhaled as vapors, consumed in food (brownies, candies) or beverages, or topically applied in ointments. Preparations differ in bioavailability, with peak effects and potencies based on the percent composition of the main psychoactive cannabinoid THC (Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol). In the mostly unregulated cannabis industry, THC content can range from 1%–90% in various preparations (4, 5). In the immediate aftermath of cannabis use and as a function of THC content, it is well established that the drug impairs attention, working memory, the ability to learn and memorize information. Thus, policy changes that increase marijuana use are likely to generate a broad spectrum of unintended consequences, including impaired cognition and perception, which can compromise driving, performance in the workplace, and other elements of daily life. Accurate analytical data on THC content in cannabis and on THC pharmacokinetic properties and metabolism are essential for identifying root causes and setting standards for legal consequences of traffic accidents or fatalities, workplace injuries, compromised productivity, safe dose limits, medical or psychiatric consequences, and for evaluating compliance with the fledgling regulatory oversight of cannabis use.In states with legalized cannabis, traffic safety has ascended the scale of immediate urgency, because cannabis-associated traffic …

[学科分类] 过敏症与临床免疫学