Δ9-THC induced dopamine release in the human striatum. The increase in dopamine levels in these regions showed regional specificity to the ventral striatum and precommissural dorsal putamen. Note that schizophrenic patients show increased amphetamine-induced dopamine release, and the degree of striatal DA release positively correlates with the severity of the psychotic symptoms [1, 121]; this may also explain why schizophrenia patients are more vulnerable to the psychotogenic effects of cannabinoids.
