A new systematic review published by the journal Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology has found limited evidence that sex significantly influences the short-term cognitive effects of cannabis, despite some research indicating stronger impacts in women.
Researchers from the University of Toronto, the Toronto Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Health Canada, and other institutions analyzed 29 studies that met their inclusion criteria from a pool of 1,625 screened publications. Only six of these studies—representing 3.7% of the 216 cognitive outcomes examined—reported any statistically significant sex differences. All six found at least one cognitive measure more affected in female participants, with one study also finding increased effects in males and another showing differing effects between the sexes.
No clear patterns emerged regarding whether differences were linked to the route of administration, dose, or specific cognitive domain. The researchers noted that the limited findings, combined with considerable variation in study designs, sample sizes, dosing methods, and cognitive tests, make it difficult to draw firm conclusions.
While animal research has shown more consistent sex differences—often attributed to hormonal modulation of cannabinoid receptors and metabolism—human data remain inconsistent. The review underscores the need for future studies to better account for biological sex factors, including hormonal influences on cannabinoid pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, to clarify whether and how men and women differ in their cognitive responses to acute cannabis use.
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