18/12/2025
Stressed-out rats binge cannabis too.
New research suggests that, like many people, rats may turn to cannabis to cope with chronic stress. In a study summarized by Popular Science, neuroscientists at Washington State University profiled 48 male and female rats on traits such as social behavior, cognition, arousal, reward sensitivity, and s*x, then allowed them access to cannabis v***r for one hour per day over three weeks. Each time a rat poked its nose into a small port, it triggered a three‑second burst of cannabis v***r into an airtight chamber, letting researchers measure voluntary intake through “nose-pokes.” When they compared these use patterns with biological markers, the clearest predictor of cannabis-seeking behavior was baseline levels of corticosterone, the rodent equivalent of human cortisol. Rats with higher resting stress hormone levels consistently showed more nose-pokes, indicating stronger motivation to self-administer cannabis.
The study also found that cognitive flexibility—how easily an animal can adapt to changing rules—was linked to cannabis use. Rats that were less flexible and more dependent on visual cues to guide decisions were more likely to seek out cannabis v***r frequently. Notably, the relationship was tied to long-term baseline stress rather than short-term, situational anxiety from tasks like exercise or puzzles. Researchers argue that understanding how chronic stress and cognitive traits drive cannabis use in animals may inform prevention and treatment strategies for people, particularly those who habitually use cannabis to manage stress. Individuals with naturally higher baseline cortisol, for example, might benefit from being more cautious with cannabis, given their potentially greater risk of overreliance.
References (APA style)
Paul, A. (2025, December 11). If offered, rats will use cannabis to deal with stress. Popular Science.
McLaughlin, R. J., et al. (2025). [Study on stress hormones and cannabis self-administration in rats]. Neuropsychopharmacology.