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Endocrine effects of marijuana.

Todd T Brown1, Adrian S Dobs

  • 1Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21287, USA.

Journal of Clinical Pharmacology
|November 5, 2002
PubMed
Summary

Research on delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), marijuana's active compound, shows it affects hormones in animals. However, human studies on marijuana's endocrine system impact remain inconsistent and unclear, possibly due to tolerance.

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Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Neuroscience
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • The isolation of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), marijuana's primary psychoactive compound, initiated extensive research into its physiological effects.
  • Animal studies reveal that cannabinoid administration significantly impacts hormonal systems, including gonadal steroids, growth hormone, prolactin, thyroid hormone, and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of marijuana use on human endocrine systems.
  • To reconcile discrepancies between animal and human study findings regarding cannabinoid effects on hormones.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on cannabinoid administration and hormonal changes.
  • Analysis of animal models demonstrating cannabinoid receptor-mediated hormonal alterations.
  • Comparison of findings from animal studies with inconsistent human clinical data.

Main Results:

  • Animal models consistently show acute alterations in multiple hormonal systems following cannabinoid administration.
  • Human studies investigating the endocrine effects of marijuana use have yielded inconsistent results.
  • Observed discrepancies in human responses may be attributed to the development of tolerance to THC.

Conclusions:

  • While animal models provide clear evidence of cannabinoid-induced hormonal changes, human endocrine responses are variable.
  • The long-term consequences of marijuana use on human endocrine function require further investigation.
  • Tolerance development is a significant factor potentially explaining the inconsistency in human study outcomes.

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