Sexually dimorphic effects of cannabinoid compounds on emotion and cognition

This review addresses the issue of sex differences in the response to cannabinoid compunds focusing mainly on behavious belonging to the congnitive and emotional sphere. Sexual dimorphism exists in the different components of the endocannabinoid system. Males seem to have higher CB1 receptor binding sites than females, but females seem to possess more efficient CB1 recptors. Differences between sexess have been also observed in the metabolic processing of THC, the main psychoactive ingredient of marijuana. The consistent dimorphism in the endocannabinoid system and THC metabolism may justify at least in part the ifferent sensitivity observed between male and female animals in different behavioral paradigms concerning emotion and cognition after treatment with cannabinoid compunds. On the basis of these observation, we would like to emphasize the need of including females in basis research and to analyze results for sex differences in epidemilogical studies.