Marijuana: Effects on Human Behavior

Marijuana: Effects on Human Behavior attempts to synthesize much of the existing experimentation concerning the acute and chronic effects of marijuana and its derivatives on human behavior. The book opens with a chapter on the strategies for conducting research on marijuana. It also describes a clinical study at the University of British Columbia. The next chapter discusses the issues that have beclouded the question of legalization of marijuana in the United States. This is followed by separate chapters on the effects of marijuana on motor and mental performance; marijuana-memory research; a model of attention which can be used to describe the effects of marijuana use on cognition; and the effects of marijuana on neuropsychological functioning and learning. Subsequent chapters examine the behavioral actions of cannabis in man; compare the behavioral actions of cannabinoids in humans with those found in infrahumans, with special reference to acquisition and retention processes, timing behavior, state-dependent learning, and attention; and investigate the long-term effects of cannabis use.

Table of Contents:
List of Contributors Preface Chapter 1 The Logistics of Marijuana Research: Methodological, Legal, and Societal I. Introduction II. Clinical Research Planning III. Clinical Study at the University of British Columbia IV. Driving Research Planning V. Summary References Chapter 2 The Marijuana Controversy I. Introduction II. Biological Issues III. Aesthetic Issues IV. Social Issues References Chapter 3 Motor and Mental Performance with Marijuana: Relationship to Administered Dose of ?9-Tetrahydrocannabinol and Its Interaction with Alcohol I. Introduction II. Preparation and Calibration of Marijuana Cigarettes for Administration of Uniform Dosage III. Establishment of Experimental Procedures IV. Marijuana Dosage Form V. Motor Performance VI. Mental Performance and Ataxia VII. Physiological Reactions to THC and Alcohol VIII. Subjective Reactions IX. Significance and Conclusion References Chapter 4 Marijuana and Memory I. Introduction II. Purposes of Marijuana-Memory Research III. A Working Memory Model IV. Experimental Tasks and Specific Experiments with Marijuana V. Locus of the Storage Deficit VI. Evidence of State-Dependent Retrieval VII. Alternative Interpretations of Experimental Results VIII. New Directions and Promising Research IX. Outlook for Marijuana-Memory Research References Chapter 5 A Model of Attention Describing the Cognitive Effects of Marijuana I. Introduction II. A Model of Attention III. Summary References Chapter 6 Psychological and Neurophysiological Effects of Marijuana in Man: an Interaction Model I. Introduction II. Methods III. Results IV. Discussion References Chapter 7 Cannabis: Neural Mechanisms and Behavior I. Introduction II. Cognitive Effects of Cannabis in Man III. Hippocampus and Memory IV. Hippocampus and Internal Inhibition V. Cholinergic System, Memory, and Inhibition VI. Comparison of Cannabinoids, Anticholinergics, and Hippocampectomy VII. Evidence That Cannabinoids Exert Actions within the Limbic System VIII. Evidence That Cannabinoids Exert Actions on Cholinergic Mechanisms IX. Data Inconsistent with the Cholinergic Hypothesis X. Effects of THC on Neuroendocrine Systems XI. Comparison of THC, the Extraadrenal Actions of ACTH, and Hippocampectomy XII. Summary References Chapter 8 Marijuana and Behavior: Human and Infrahuman Comparisons I. Introduction II. Memory and Acquisition III. Timing Behavior IV. State-Dependent Learning V. Attention and Habituation VI. Summary and Discussion References Chapter 9 The Long-Term Effects of Cannabis Use I. Introduction II. Studies of Chronic Use in Created Populations III. Studies in Animals IV. Studies of Chronic Use in Existing Populations V. Summary References Chapter 10 Cannabis Intoxication: the Role of Pharmacological and Psychological Variables I. Introduction II. Recent Evidence III. The Experimental Program IV. Conclusions References Chapter 11 Marijuana Use and Psychiatric Illness I. Statement of the Problem II. Pitfalls in Marijuana Research III. Psychiatric Syndromes Described in Association with Marijuana Use IV. Correlations of Marijuana Use with Psychiatric Illness V. Conclusion References Chapter 12 Marijuana Use and the Progression to Dangerous Drugs I. Introduction II. Logical Issues—Descriptive Studies III. Methodological Issues—Descriptive Studies IV. Logical Issues—Causal Mechanisms V. Methodological Issues—Causal Mechanisms References Chapter 13 Marijuana and Human Aggression I. Introduction II. Basic Considerations III. Sources and Limitations IV. Laboratory Data V. Field Studies of Marijuana and Human Aggression References Chapter 14 Effects of Marijuana on Driving in a Restricted Area and on City Streets: Driving Performance and Physiological Changes I. Introduction II. Methods III. Results IV. Discussion V. Conclusion References Subject Index