Marijuana and memory impairment: Effect on free recall and recognition memory

The effect of marijuana on memory was evaluated by presenting two groups of 17 male volunteers with lists of repeated or nonrepeated words following administration of a single marijuana cigarette containing 14 mg Δ 9-THC. An immediate free recall, final free recall and recognition memory test followed. Results indicated that marijuana significantly decreased immediate and final free recall but only slightly influenced recognition memory. Rate of acquisition on the repeated lists was the same for both groups. Long term retention of encoded information was not influenced by marijuana. The shape of the serial position curves departed slightly from those reported by other investigators in that some effects of the drug on the recency portion of the curve were noted. Both internal and external intrusions were elevated under marijuana.