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Breathhold duration and response to marijuana smoke
1Department of Psychiatry, Pritzker School of Medicine, The University of Chicago 60637.
Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior
|June 1, 1989
Summary
Holding marijuana smoke in the lungs for longer periods does not appear to intensify the drug's effects. This study found no significant difference in physiological, cognitive, or subjective responses based on breathhold duration.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Human Physiology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Marijuana smokers often hold smoke in their lungs for extended durations (10-15 seconds).
- This practice is believed to enhance the drug's effects.
- The impact of breathhold duration on marijuana response remains uninvestigated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of varying breathhold durations on responses to marijuana smoke.
- To assess physiological, cognitive, and subjective effects in regular marijuana users.
Main Methods:
- Eight regular marijuana smokers participated in a randomized block design study.
- Subjects were exposed to three breathhold conditions: 0, 10, and 20 seconds.
- A controlled smoking procedure with constant puff and inhalation volumes was employed, monitoring carbon monoxide levels.
Main Results:
- All breathhold conditions produced typical marijuana effects, including increased heart rate and self-reported high, alongside impaired memory.
- However, there was minimal evidence to suggest that the intensity of these marijuana effects varied significantly with breathhold duration.
Conclusions:
- Prolonged breathholding after inhaling marijuana smoke does not appear to significantly alter the drug's physiological, cognitive, or subjective effects.
- The common belief that longer breathholds intensify marijuana's impact is not supported by this study's findings.