Women more sensitive to marijuana, WSU study shows

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Kate Harloe

Kate Harloe Feb 6, 2018

Feb 6, 2018

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                <h1>Women more sensitive to marijuana, WSU study shows </h1>
                <h2><p>As Washington rounds out its first summer of legal marijuana, women lighting up may want to take extra precautions, according to the results of a new study. Researchers at Washington State University found that female rats are more sensitive to THC than males, and are quicker to develop a tolerance</p></h2>
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               <p>By <a href="/author/kate-harloe-crosscut-com/">Kate Harloe</a></p> 
              <p><time datetime="2025-02-04T05:00:00-08:00">Feb 6, 2018</time></p>
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            <p>As Washington rounds out its first summer of legal marijuana, women lighting up may want to take extra precautions, according to the results of a new study. Researchers at Washington State University found that female rats are more sensitive to THC than males, and are quicker to develop a tolerance to the key-ingredient of marijuana. This adds to earlier research from Columbia University Medical Center showing that women are more susceptible to cannabis abuse and dependency.“Marijuana is very different than it was 40 years ago,” said Rebecca Craft, WSU psychology professor and co-author of the study in a <a href="https://news.wsu.edu/2014/09/03/females-more-sensitive-to-cannabis-males-get-munchies/?ref=dev.cascadepbs.org#.VAjUybxdWgT">statement</a>. “We’re more likely to see negative side effects today like anxiety, confusion, panic attacks, hallucinations or extreme paranoia. And women are at higher risk,” she added. — M.L.</p>
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As Washington rounds out its first summer of legal marijuana, women lighting up may want to take extra precautions, according to the results of a new study. Researchers at Washington State University found that female rats are more sensitive to THC than males, and are quicker to develop a tolerance to the key-ingredient of marijuana. This adds to earlier research from Columbia University Medical Center showing that women are more susceptible to cannabis abuse and dependency.“Marijuana is very different than it was 40 years ago,” said Rebecca Craft, WSU psychology professor and co-author of the study in a statement. “We’re more likely to see negative side effects today like anxiety, confusion, panic attacks, hallucinations or extreme paranoia. And women are at higher risk,” she added. — M.L.

By Kate Harloe

Kate Harloe is Crosscut's Community Manager &amp; Editorial Assistant. After graduating from Hamilton College, Kate completed two seasons of work for the Southwest Conservation Corps before moving