Differential anxiogenic, aversive, and locomotor effects of THC in adolescent and adult rats.

Rationale: Unpleasant side effects of drugs of abuse often limit their repeated use; however, such effects may be attenuated in adolescents compared to adults.

Objectives: We investigated whether the anxiogenic, aversive, or locomotor effects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) differ between adolescent and adult rats.

Methods: We used the elevated plus maze (EPM) and light-dark tests of anxiety, the conditioned taste aversion and conditioned place aversion (CPA) tests of generalized aversion, and measures of stress hormone levels in serum to examine effects of THC in adolescent and adult rats.