High Potency Cannabis: Acute and Protracted Effects

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES · Mar 3, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying the effects of smoking cannabis on people who regularly use it. Researchers want to see how cannabis affects users both when they smoke it regularly and after they have stopped for a short time. The goal is to better understand how cannabis interacts with the body, especially in terms of pain and potential misuse.

To join this study, participants should be healthy men or women between the ages of 21 and 55 who smoke cannabis nearly every day and are not currently looking for treatment for cannabis use. They should also have a body mass index (BMI) between 18.5 and 34. Participants will need to be using a birth control method since the study is not for pregnant women. Those with severe mental health issues, other substance use disorders, or those currently using certain medications may not be eligible. If someone joins the study, they can expect to perform various assessments related to their cannabis use, and the research team will guide them through all the steps involved. It's important to note that this trial is not yet recruiting participants.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • • Male or non-pregnant and non-lactating females aged 21-55 years
• • Report cannabis smoking near daily
• • Not currently seeking treatment for their cannabis use
• • Have a Body Mass Index from 18.5 - 34kg/m2.
• • Able to perform all study procedures
• • Must be using a contraceptive (hormonal or barrier methods)
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Meeting DSM-V criteria for any substance use disorder other than cannabis, nicotine, caffeine
• • Do not have positive urine toxicology for cannabis use during screening
• • Evidence of severe psychiatric illness (e.g. mood or anxiety disorder with functional impairment or suicide risk, schizophrenia) judged by the study physician (and PI) to put the participant at greater risk of experiencing adverse events due to completion of study procedures, interfere with their ability to participate in the study, or their capacity to provide informed consent.
• • Report using other illicit drugs in the prior 4 weeks
• • Current predominant licit use of medical cannabis, prescription analgesics, or any medications that may affect study outcomes
• • Current pain
• • Pregnancy
• • Currently enrolled in another research protocol
• • Not using a contraceptive method (hormonal or barrier methods)
• • Insensitivity to the cold water stimulus of the Cold Pressor Test
• • Any disorders that might make cannabis administration hazardous as determined by evaluation physician after review of all medical assessments along with medical history.
• • Not able to speak and read English