Volitional control of marijuana intoxication: A study of the ability to "come down" on command.

Studied the ability of experienced marihuana users to offset the behavioral consequences of marihuana smoking, using objective and subjective indices of intoxication. In a repeated test design, 10 Ss smoked placebo and 10 marihuana containing 1.2% tetrahydrocannabinol. The dependent variables were subjective rating of intoxication, pulse rate, and several performance measures. In a high-motivation condition, Ss were instructed to try and overcome the effects of the drug; in a low-motivation condition no special instructions were given. High-motivation Ss compensated for intoxication more than low-motivation Ss in a time-estimation task but not in short-term memory. Subjective intoxication and pulse rate were not differentially affected. Although compensation was task specific, the results demonstrate that in principle the ability to come down exists. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)