Long-Term Consequences of Adolescent Exposure to THC-Rich/CBD-Poor and CBD-Rich/THC-Poor Combinations: A Comparison with Pure THC Treatment in Female Rats
International Journal of Molecular Sciences August 18, 2021 Marina Gabaglio, Erica Zamberletti, Cristina Manenti et al.
Cannabis is widely used by adolescents, and animal studies have shown long-term harm from its main psychoactive component, THC, but often ignore other cannabinoids like CBD. In female rats, giving THC and CBD together in a 3:1 ratio—based on illegal cannabis samples—reduced some behavioral changes and alterations in CB1 receptors and microglia in the prefrontal cortex caused by THC alone. However, a combination resembling 'light cannabis' (CBD:THC at 33:1, total THC 0.3%) caused lasting cognitive problems and anhedonia, along with increased GAD67 levels in the prefrontal cortex, indicating possible long-term effects on GABA signaling.