Do Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Concentrations Indicate Recent Use in Chronic Cannabis Users? (2024)

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Cannabis, the most widely used illicit drug worldwide, exerts dose-related psychoactive effects when the primary psychoactive component, Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), interacts with cannabinoid receptors in brain. THC binding to the CB1-cannabinoid receptor leads to the “high” experienced by cannabis smokers [1]. THC is metabolized by hepatic cytochrome P450 enzymes 2C9 and 2C19 to the equipotent monohydroxy compound [2], 11-hydroxy-THC (11-OH-THC), and undergoes further oxidation to non-psychoactive 11-nor-9-carboxy-THC (THCCOOH) [3, 4]. Whole blood 11-OH-THC concentrations are only about 10% of THC concentrations after smoking cannabis, in comparison to nearly equivalent concentrations after oral THC administration [5]. First pass hepatic metabolism of orally administered cannabis greatly reduces the bioavailability of THC by this route, but does produce increased 11-OH-THC concentrations that contribute to observed pharmacodynamic effects. While THC concentrations decrease rapidly after smoking cannabis, THCCOOH concentrations, the water soluble metabolite, are detected for longer periods of time in blood [6]. For best interpretation of cannabinoid blood concentrations and an improved understanding of THC disposition in biological matrices, quantification of THC, 11-OH-THC and THCCOOH is needed. In addition, predictive models to estimate time of last cannabis use within 95% confidence intervals require concentration data for THC and THCCOOH [7–9], and THC and 11-OH-THC concentrations may suggest whether the route of administration was smoked or oral.

Dose-related cognitive and psychom*otor performance, such as that related to driving a motor vehicle, may be impaired when under the influence of cannabis [10–15]. Another body of data suggests that residual neuropsychological deficits may persist in chronic cannabis users for days or even weeks after last drug exposure [16, 17]. Although the mechanism of these residual cognitive and motor deficits is uncertain, it seems likely that they might be attributable to the persistence of cannabinoids in the blood, and by implication, in the brain.

One important reason for evaluating THC disposition after chronic cannabis exposure is that impairment is sometimes inferred in forensic settings on the basis of THC concentrations in whole blood. In 15 states (Arizona, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah and Wisconsin) and 7 European countries (Belgium, France, Finland, Germany, Poland, Sweden and Switzerland), per se legal limits are set for blood cannabinoid concentrations; if whole blood THC concentrations equal or exceed the legal limit, drivers may be convicted of driving under the influence of drugs (DUID). But do blood cannabinoid concentrations reflect recency of cannabis exposure in heavy long-term cannabis users? Despite the importance of this question, few studies have been conducted that include observed abstinence and extended monitoring periods [18, 19]. To augment these limited data, we measured serial blood cannabinoid concentrations during seven days of monitored abstinence in 25 of the heaviest, longest-term cannabis users volunteering for our clinical studies.

METHODS

RESULTS

Twenty-five frequent cannabis users (12 male, 13 female; 84.0% African American, 8.0% Hispanic, 4.0% Caucasian, 4.0% American Indian; mean age, 26.2 ± 4.5 years; median, 25.0 years; range, 21–38 years) completed the study. Race/ethnicity was defined by the participant. Demographic and physiological characteristics of participants are reported in Table 1. Most of the participants reported daily or near daily cannabis use in the last 14 days. Mean duration of use averaged 8.8 ± 4.4 years with mean age of first use of 15.8 ± 2.9 years. Mean time since last self-reported use was 0.6 ± 0.7 days. Every participant reported drinking alcohol in the month prior to admission, and all but four (participants A, C, S and X) reported smoking tobacco within two weeks of admission. No participant reported other illicit drug use during the two weeks prior to admission, with the exception of participant M, who reported using cocaine one day. [Insert Table 1 approximately here]

THC concentrations during seven days of abstinence are reported in Table 1. Nine chronic users (36%) had no positive specimens, despite the low LOQ, throughout the seven-day abstinence period, similar to what has been documented after acute cannabis exposure. Fourteen participants were positive on admission (day 1) (Figure 1), and four (28.6%) of these had THC concentrations above 1.0 ng/mL, the cutoff frequently applied to indicate DUID in the United States. Surprisingly, on the seventh day of monitored cannabis abstinence, six full days after entering the unit, six participants’ whole blood specimens contained THC ≥0.25 ng/mL, with three ≥1.0 ng/mL. THC concentrations always exceeded 11-OH-THC concentrations, with the exception of four participants’ specimens on day 1. A total of 20 specimens were positive for both THC and 11-OH-THC, with only one positive for 11-OH-THC without THC. All participants exhibited measurable THCCOOH concentrations throughout seven days of abstinence (Table 2). [Insert Table 2 and Figure 1 approximately here]

Five participants, all female, were THC positive throughout the seven days (Table 1). Among these five individuals, THC, 11-OH-THC, and THCCOOH concentrations (± SE) on day 1 were 2.5 ± 1.1, 1.9 ± 1.1, and 45.2 ± 15.0 ng/mL, respectively. Day 7 cannabinoid blood concentrations were 1.5 ± 0.5, 0.3 ± 0.2, and 18.7 ± 6.1 ng/mL, respectively.

For the first time to our knowledge, negative whole blood specimens were found interspersed between positive samples (Table 1 and Figure 2). Of the 16 participants with positive specimens, two (12.5%) had THC concentrations less than LOQ at admission, but at least one later positive specimen. Participants’ data displayed different patterns (Figure 2). For instance, participant O’s blood was THC negative at admission and on day 3, but THC was detectable on days 2, 4, 5 and 6 (Figure 2a). Participant U’s THC blood concentrations decreased daily until no drug was detectable on day 7 (Figure 2b), while participant S’s THC concentrations were the highest obtained on each day and exceeded 2.2 ng/mL for the entire seven days (Figure 2c). We found no significant correlation between BMI and time until the last THC-positive whole blood specimen (R = −0.2; p = 0.445). [Insert Figure 2 approximately here]

DISCUSSION

We assessed whole blood THC concentrations in 25 frequent cannabis users living on a secure research unit with 24 h medical surveillance during seven days of cannabis abstinence. Some of these users displayed substantial whole blood THC concentrations after at least seven days of abstinence. This finding is in accordance with Johansson et al, who found measurable THC in plasma of three males up to 13 days after 60 mg smoked THC, administered over two days. [21] There were few 11-OH-THC-positive specimens. Oral THC (Marinol) produces approximately equivalent THC and 11-OH-THC concentrations after first pass metabolism in the liver [5, 22] -- but when cannabis is smoked, efficient gas exchange in the lungs distributes THC into systemic circulation yielding only about 10% 11-OH-THC. In contrast, THCCOOH was detectable in this study in all participants for at least seven days. This is consistent with previous studies reporting prolonged THCCOOH urinary excretion in frequent cannabis users [23–26].

Whole blood THC concentrations were highly variable among participants; nine participants had no quantifiable THC at any time, whereas others displayed substantial THC concentrations even after seven days. Variable THC release rates from tissue stores during abstinence may account for these marked variations. It is interesting to note that of the five participants with positive THC specimens on all seven days, all were female. Although previous studies have reported no differences in THC metabolism, disposition and kinetics between sexes [5], we have recently reported that the time to last positive THCCOOH in urine was 140 h longer in 10 abstinent females as compared to 12 males (p <0.02) [27]. In the present study, there was no significant difference in BMI between males and females; however, females generally have more adipose tissue than males and possibly, these women had a greater THC body burden. Interestingly, participant S, who showed the highest THC concentrations, had the lowest BMI among the women in the study – suggesting that factors other than BMI, such as neuroendocrine effects, might account for differences between individuals and between the sexes. Although we did not assess body fat percentage among our subjects, this measure should be considered in future excretion studies.

Clearly, cannabis produces impairment in neurocognitive and psychom*otor skills necessary for safe driving; however, defining the relationship between THC blood concentrations and performance decrements has been challenging. Numerous early studies failed to find a significant increase in accident risk when cannabinoids were present in blood or urine [28–33]. In some of these, the presence of the non-psychoactive THCCOOH metabolite, rather than THC, defined recent cannabis use. Other limitations included long intervals between accident occurrence and blood collection leading to false negative cannabinoid results, and limited numbers of cases positive for cannabis only. More recently, Drummer et al. conducted a study in 3398 fatally injured drivers to determine the effect of cannabis on accident culpability [34]. Using a validated method of classifying drivers as culpable or non-culpable, the investigators found that accident risk significantly increased in drivers with measurable blood THC concentrations (no LOQ provided) when compared to drug-free drivers (odds ratio (OR) 2.7, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.0 – 7.0). When THC concentrations were greater than 5 ng/mL, culpability increased (OR 6.6, 95% CI 1.5 – 28.0). This odds ratio is comparable to that observed with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.15 g%.

Recent experimental laboratory research proposed impairment limits of 2 – 5 ng/mL serum THC (approximately 1 – 2.5 ng/mL whole blood) after observing behavioral impairment in a majority of participants with serum THC concentrations within the suggested limits in tasks relating to driving skills [35]. Others suggested that a serum THC between 7 and 10 ng/mL (approximately 3.5 – 5.0 ng/mL whole blood) was indicative of impairment, similar to a BAC of 0.05% based on a meta-analysis of multiple toxicological studies [36]. But it is difficult to apply these limits in the field, because THC concentrations decrease rapidly after cannabis smoking, even in frequent users, from high peak concentrations (100 to 400 ng/mL depending upon the individual, cannabis potency, and smoking parameters) to levels of 1 to 10 ng/mL in a few hours. The time required to obtain biological specimens after automobile or industrial accidents often exceeds 3 h, frequently leading to negative THC tests. Drug concentrations in the majority of DUID cases are 1 – 2 ng/mL. If a 5 ng/mL whole blood limit had been the law, 77 – 90% of apprehended drivers recently using cannabis in Sweden from 1995 – 2004 would not have been prosecuted [37]. Conversely, as the present study shows, some individuals may display concentrations well over 1 ng/mL many days after last cannabis exposure.

One limitation of our research is reliance on self-reports of drug use; reports of the recency and quantity of cannabis smoked often did not correlate with analyte concentrations. However, this limitation would not impact our principal finding that substantial blood THC concentrations persisted for days in many chronic cannabis users. Another possible limitation of the study is that specimens were kept in long-term frozen storage for up to five years prior to analysis, raising the possibility of degradation of cannabinoids in whole blood specimens. For example, analytes may have adsorbed to polypropylene storage tubes [38], precipitated with blood proteins, or degraded in vitro. Whole blood cannabinoid stability is variable [38–40]. A recent study [41] has observed cannabinoid concentration decreases of a least 20% in spiked whole blood stored at −20°C for two weeks, while a separate study [39] has observed no statistically significant decreases after six months in fortified blood stored at −10°C. However, these factors could only have caused us to underestimate, rather than overestimate cannabinoid concentrations. Also, these stability studies were conducted in blank whole blood fortified with cannabinoids and not in authentic specimens that were collected and analyzed in the current study.

In summary, we found highly variable, but often substantial whole blood THC concentrations in chronic cannabis users for many days after last drug exposure. These findings may be relevant for legislation employing THC concentrations to define intoxication and accident culpability. The findings also raise the intriguing possibility that cannabis-associated cognitive and motor impairment, demonstrated in some individuals for many days after last cannabis exposure [16, 17, 42–44], may be related to the persistence of THC in the blood and by implication, in the brain [45]. If so, our findings suggest that residual neurocognitive impairment after days of abstinence might be quite variable among individuals, depending on the persistence and magnitude of THC in an individual’s brain. These data suggest a potential mechanism for cognitive impairment after chronic cannabis use and provide data for evidence-based policy decisions on DUID. In subsequent studies, it will be invaluable to assess the association between neuropsychological performance and simultaneous blood THC concentrations. If neurocognitive impairment is documented after at least seven days of abstinence, the implementation of per se impairment limits may be valid.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors would like to thank Allan J. Barnes for data analysis support and Kathleen Demuth, Janeen Nichels and John Etter for clinical research assistance. This research was supported by the Intramural Research Program of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health.

Footnotes

REFERENCES