Association between ABCB1 rs2235048 Polymorphism and THC Pharmacokinetics and Subjective Effects following Smoked Cannabis in Young Adults
Brain Sciences September 3, 2022 Justin Matheson, Yollanda J. Zhang, Bruna Brands et al. 5 citations
A genetic variant of ABCB1, which encodes a protein that pumps substances out of cells, may influence how the body processes THC from smoked cannabis. In 48 young adults who used cannabis 1–4 days per week, those carrying a C allele at the rs2235048 polymorphism had higher blood levels of THC metabolites after smoking a single cannabis cigarette than those with the TT genotype. C-allele carriers also reported using cannabis more frequently each week and greater drug liking. No other subjective drug effects differed between groups. The findings are preliminary and suggest that ABCB1 could affect cannabis-related traits and risk for cannabis use disorder, but larger studies are needed.