Action of cannabidiol on the anxiety and other effects produced by δ9-THC in normal subjects

The object of the experiment was to verify whether cannabidiol (CBD) reduces the anxiety provoked by Δ ⁹-TCH in normal volunteers, and whether this effect occurs by a general block of the action of Δ ⁹-TCH or by a specific anxiolytic effect. Appropriate measurements and scales were utilized and the eight volunteers received, the following treatments in a double-blind procedure: 0.5 mg/kg Δ ⁹-TCH, 1 mg/kg CBD, a mixture containing 0.5 mg/kg Δ ⁹-TCH and 1 mg/kg CBD and placebo and diazepam (10 mg) as controls. Each volunteer received the treatments in a different sequence. It was verified that CBD blocks the anxiety provoked by Δ ⁹-TCH, however this effect also extended to marihuanalike effects and to other subjective alterations induced by Δ ⁹-TCH. This antagonism does not appear to be caused by a general block of Δ ⁹-TCH effects, since no change was detected in the pulse-rate measurements. Several further effects were observed typical of CBD and of an opposite nature to those of Δ ⁹-TCH.

These results suggest that the effects of CBD, as opposed to those of Δ ⁹-TCH, might be involved in the antagonism of effects between the two cannabinoids.