Placebo Effects of Edible Cannabis: Reported Intoxication Effects at a 30-Minute Delay

• Published in: Journal of psychoactive drugs 2017-10, Vol.49 (5), p.393-397
• Main Authors: Loflin, Mallory J. E., Earleywine, Mitch, Farmer, Stacey, Slavin, Melissa, Luba, Rachel, Bonn-Miller, Marcel
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cannabis; edibles; expectancy; Intoxication; Marijuana; placebo; Placebo effect
• ISSN: 0279-1072; 2159-9777
• DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2017.1354409

Previous research has demonstrated the ability of non-active smoked cannabis cigarettes to induce subjective effects of intoxication (i.e., placebo effect). No studies have been conduced to test whether edible forms of cannabis, which are associated with a significant delay in onset of effect, are able to induce a placebo effect. In the present study, 20 participants were told that they would receive an edible cannabis lollipop containing a high dose of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), but were instead given a placebo control. Measures of intoxication and mood were taken at baseline, 30 minutes, and 60 minutes post-ingestion of the placebo lollipop. Results of four repeated-measures ANOVAs found significant and quadratic changes across time in cannabis (ARCI m-scale) intoxication (F(2,18) = 4.90, p = .01, η 2  = .22) and negative mood (F(2,18) = 3.99, p = .05, η 2  = .19). Changes in positive mood and the overall measure of general intoxication (ARCI) failed to reach significance. The present study provides preliminary evidence that a placebo effect can be induced with inert edible agents when participants are told that they are receiving active THC. This is the first known study to demonstrate an edible cannabis intoxication placebo effect.