Marijuana and T lymphocyte rosettes.

The effect of marijuana smoking on sheep cell rosetting properties of both early (active) and total T lymphocytes was studied in vitro. Significantly fewer active rosettes were formed by T cells from a population of 35 who appeared to be chronic marijuana smokers than the 34 controls. The late, or cold-enhanced rosettes formed by smokers and nonsmokers were similar, suggesting that similar numbers of rosette-forming T cells were present in the peripheral blood of smokers. These data suggest that marijuana smoking may affect the function of a subpopulation of T lymphocytes, identified by their capacity to form early rosettes, possibly by affecting these cell membranes.