Cognitive, psychomotor and psychotomimetic effects of a synthetic cannabinoid

Background - For over a decade, synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) have been used recreationally, yet placebo-controlled studies examining their effects are scarce. SCs, such as JWH-018, have a much higher potency than natural cannabis and are associated with an increased risk for adverse events. We aimed to investigate the acute effects of low doses of JWH-018 on cognition, psychomotor performance, and subjective responses.

Methods - Three placebo-controlled, within-subjects studies were performed in healthy cannabis-experienced volunteers. Participants inhaled the vapor of 2 and 3 mg of JWH-018 (study 1), 75µg JWH-018/kg bodyweight (study 2), and 75µg JWH-018/kg bodyweight plus a booster dose on an as-needed basis to reach a minimum level of intoxication (study 3). Participants were monitored for at least 4,5 hours, while psychomotor, cognitive, and subjective effects were measured. This included measures for eye-hand coordination, divided attention, and inhibition. Subjective experiences such as the subjective high, dissociative states (CADSS), psychedelic symptoms (Bowdle), mood (POMS), and cannabis reinforcement (SCRQ) were also evaluated.

Results - The inhalation of JWH-018 resulted in impaired performance on tracking, divided attention, inhibition tasks, despite a sometimes suboptimal drug administration. JWH-018 caused psychedelic and dissociative effects and induced feelings of confusion. Additionally, participants with high levels of subjective intoxication exhibited the most pronounced impairment and psychedelic effects.

Conclusions - These findings demonstrate that a low dose of JWH-018 induces pronounced psychotomimetic symptoms and causes acute cognitive and psychomotor impairment in healthy participants. Therefore, it is concluded that intoxication with SCs poses a severe risk to public health.