# UCLA study: occasional-use men reacted more strongly to smoked cannabis than women, 44 adults

- Published: 2026-11-06 00:55 UTC
- Section: Life & Health › Neurotechnology
- Tags: cannabis sex differences, THC sensitivity, cannabis tolerance, Neuropsychopharmacology, crossover trial, plasma THC, cannabis use disorder risk
- URL: https://realtech.media/news/rt-fd2595f9377913c685a9e3e1_ucla_study_occasional/

**In a crossover trial of 44 adults, men who used cannabis occasionally reported stronger effects than comparable women, contrary to earlier reports of higher female sensitivity.**

![UCLA study: occasional-use men reacted more strongly to smoked cannabis than women, 44 adults](https://sgzwpqqelzmajkcubgkl.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/rt-media/2026/11/5bad11ac0e413fe4.jpg)
*Cgcizek, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0*

Researchers at the UCLA Center for Cannabis and Cannabinoids tested how sex and frequency of use together shape the acute effects of smoked cannabis. The results were published in Neuropsychopharmacology. The work included 44 participants, 22 of them women, and was randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled and crossover [1].

Each participant smoked three cannabis strengths: 0% THC (about 0 mg), 4% THC (about 20 mg) and 10% THC (about 60 mg). Blood was drawn for plasma analysis, and participants completed ratings of mood and drug effects and a self-administration task. Results were analyzed by strength, sex and use frequency, split at more than 4 versus 4 or fewer days per week and balanced across sex. According to the UCLA release, the women were not using hormonal birth control and were tested in the same phase of the menstrual cycle [1].

## Occasional-use men reported stronger effects

Compared with placebo, both active strengths increased subjective effects and plasma THC and its metabolites [1]. Occasional-use men gave higher ratings of "High", sedation/impairment, dysphoric arousal and "Bad effect" than sex- or frequency-matched counterparts. For "High" and sedation/impairment this came from exploratory follow-up analysis. Per the UCLA release, they were also the only group whose heart rate rose significantly after active cannabis [1].

Plasma THC did not account for the difference. Levels tended to be highest in frequent-use men, who nonetheless reported weaker effects than occasional-use men [1].

## Frequency of use, not sex, tracked misuse-related ratings

The frequent-use group showed significant increases over placebo in the misuse-related ratings "Like" and "Take again" and self-administered more cannabis than the occasional-use group. Sex did not change this [1].

The authors note that cannabis use is rising among women and that earlier work suggested greater female sensitivity to THC. They propose that women may develop tolerance at lower exposure than men, which larger studies would need to test [1].

The sample was modest, several findings were exploratory, and the THC strengths were lower than in many products now sold, according to the release. The team is now studying high-potency products and adults aged 55 and older. "When we designed a study to look at sex and frequency of use at the same time, and controlled for hormones, the picture changed," said principal investigator Dr. Ziva Cooper [1].

## Sources

1. [Neuropsychopharmacology](https://doi.org/10.1038/s41386-026-02571-3)
2. [newswise.com](https://www.newswise.com/articles/study-challenges-belief-that-women-are-more-sensitive-to-the-effects-of-cannabis)

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Source: RealTech, realtech.media — https://realtech.media/news/rt-fd2595f9377913c685a9e3e1_ucla_study_occasional/