Abstract
Psychological and physiological indices were monitored before and 120 minutes after smoking high- and low-potency marijuana cigarettes and a placebo cigarette in 35 physically and psychiatrically healthy normal volunteers during three separate visits to the laboratory. The psychological indices monitored consisted of temporal disintegration, depersonalization, and mood states. The psychological indices were cerebral blood flow, pulse, respiration, and end tidal carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. Marijuana smoking, but not placebo smoking, was associated with significant temporal disintegration and depersonalization. The changes were most marked 30 minutes after smoking the high-potency cigarettes. Eighty-six percent of the subjects reported at least some temporal disintegration after high-potency marijuana. After marijuana smoking, there was also a significant increase in cerebral blood flow, respiration, pulse rate, and systolic blood pressure. Temporal disintegration was found to be most closely associated with depersonalization, confusion, and intoxication.