The Report of the National Commission on Marihuana and Drug Abuse

Acute Effects of Marihuana

(Delta 9 THC)

PERSISTENT EFFECTS AFTER ACUTE DOSE

Investigators have not noted persistent effects after smoking marihuana for periods of more than three to five hours (Fink et al., 1971; Weil et al., 1968; Pillard, 1970).

Users report only minimal hangover effects (Mayor's Committee, 1944; Haines and Green, 1970; McGlothlin et al., 1971) after very heavy use. Feelings of lassitude and heaviness of the head, lethargy, irritability, headaches and loss of concentration are reported especially when associated with lack of sleep (Chopra and Chopra, 1939; Indian Hemp, 1893). This may be related to preliminary data (Rickles et al., 1970) suggesting a subtle increase in REM sleep time primarily seen in the last one-third of the night in individuals who smoked one to two cigarettes per day usually at night for at least a year.