Cannabidiol treatment reduces the motivation to self-administer methamphetamine and methamphetamine-primed relapse in...

Methamphetamine is an addictive stimulant that can cause many adverse physical, psychological and psychosocial effects. Preliminary evidence shows cannabidiol, a non-intoxicating constituent of the cannabis plant, may have efficacy in treating opioid and nicotine dependence. However, no study has yet examined whether cannabidiol treatment might impact on methamphetamine addiction.

The current study investigated whether cannabidiol administration reduces the motivation to self-administer methamphetamine and relapse to methamphetamine-seeking behavior following abstinence.

Thirty-two male Sprague Dawley rats with implanted jugular vein catheters were initially trained to self-administer methamphetamine via lever press during two-hour sessions on a fixed ratio 1 schedule of reinforcement. Rats in experiment 1 ( n=16) then advanced to a progressive ratio reinforcement schedule to examine the effects of cannabidiol (0, 20, 40, and 80 mg/kg intraperitoneal) on motivation to self-administer methamphetamine. Rats in experiment 2 ( n=16) were tested for cannabidiol effects on methamphetamine-primed reinstatement following extinction.

Cannabidiol (80 mg/kg, but not 40 mg/kg, or 20 mg/kg) reduced the motivation to self-administer methamphetamine and attenuated methamphetamine-primed relapse to methamphetamine-seeking behavior after extinction.

This is the first demonstration that cannabidiol can reduce the motivation to seek and consume methamphetamine, and suggests that cannabidiol might be worth trialing as a novel pharmacotherapy for methamphetamine dependence.