Examining the Role of Tolerance on Dose-dependent Effects of Acute THC on Oculomotor and Cognitive Performance

Launched by JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · Apr 5, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying how THC, the active ingredient in cannabis, affects eye movement and thinking skills in people who use cannabis differently. Researchers want to find out if those who use cannabis frequently have different reactions to THC compared to those who use it less often. Participants will be given different doses of THC (none, 5mg, or 30mg) while performing tasks that measure how well their eyes move and how focused they can stay. This study aims to improve understanding of how cannabis use affects driving abilities and attention, and the results will help develop better ways to detect THC impairment.

To be eligible for the trial, participants need to be healthy adults aged 18 to 60 who use cannabis either rarely (at least once in the past year without a recent positive THC test) or frequently (more than 5 days a week for over a year with a recent positive THC test). Participants should not have any serious health issues or be pregnant, and they should not be seeking treatment for cannabis use. Those who join the study will be part of a controlled environment, ensuring their safety while helping researchers learn more about cannabis effects.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Inclusion criteria: Healthy non-treatment seeking adults (age 18 to 60, N = 40) who report
• • (a) infrequent cannabis use defined as at least one reported use in the past year with a negative THC urine toxicology at baseline, or
• • (b) report frequent cannabis use defined as \> 5 days per week for \> 1 year with a positive THC urine toxicology at baseline.
• • These criteria were selected to target individuals with low and high-frequency cannabis use in order to examine the direct effect of tolerance on study outcome measures.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • (1) meet DSM-V criteria for substance use disorders other than tobacco, cannabis, or caffeine,
• • (2) are currently receiving or interested in immediately receiving behavioral treatment or medication for cannabis cessation,
• • (3) current use of any medications that could affect study outcomes,
• • (4) test positive for drugs of abuse (other than cannabis) and/or breath alcohol test at study admission,
• • (5) have a current physical or mental illness judged by the study team to negatively impact participant safety or scientific integrity,
• • (6) are currently pregnant, planning to become pregnant in the next three months or are currently breastfeeding,
• • (7) have a history of clinically significant cardiac arrhythmias or vasospastic disease (e.g. Prinzmetal's angina), or (8) are currently enrolled in another clinical trial or have received any drug as part of a research study within 30 days of study participation.