Cannabis Use
Conditions
Brief summary
Investigators will gather data on both the beneficial and harmful effects of edible cannabis of varying composition (THC-only vs. CBD-only vs. THC+CBD), and will examine the process by which older adult cannabis users decide what type of cannabis product is preferred.
Detailed description
Older adults are currently the fastest growing group of cannabis users in the U.S, and are more likely to use cannabis for medicinal purposes (e.g., pain, trouble sleeping, depression/anxiety) than for recreational purposes, despite having little data to guide their decisions about what type of product to use. This project utilizes a patient-centered observational design to recruit and assess older adults who are interested in using cannabis compared to a control group who is not interested in cannabis use. Investigators will gather data on both the beneficial and harmful effects of edible cannabis of varying composition (THC-only vs. CBD-only vs. THC+CBD), and will examine the process by which older adult cannabis users decide what type of cannabis product is preferred.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALChoice of cannabis product
Participants choose and purchase their own cannabis product
Sponsors
University of Colorado, Boulder
Study design
Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
60 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* At least 60 years of age * Able to provide informed consent * Cannabis Users: Must not currently use cannabis more than 7 times per month and not for pain, sleep, depression or anxiety in the past 6 months * Cannabis Non-users: Should NOT have used cannabis in the past year and have not used regularly (e.g., more than weekly) for more than one year in the past 20 years * Cannabis Users: Must be interested in using cannabis for at least one of the following complains: pain, sleep problems, depression, anxiety * Non-users: Must NOT be interested in using cannabis but have at least one of the following complaints: pain, sleep problems, depression, anxiety * Cannabis users: must be comfortable using edible cannabis and having a mobile laboratory (Dodge van) parked at their home * Female participants must be postmenopausal * Comfortable reading and writing in English * Planning to stay in the Boulder/Denver area for the next month * Must be comfortable with blood draws
Exclusion criteria
* Blood alcohol level \> 0 at screening (to sign consent form) * Report of other drug use (cocaine, opiates, methamphetamine) in the past 90 days or fail urine screen for any of these drugs * Past or current diagnosis of psychosis * Current use of antipsychotic medications * Heavy drinking; Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) test score \>8 * Inability/discomfort/unwillingness with getting in and out of the mobile laboratory van * History of vertigo or falls within the past six months
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Task | Baseline, 1-month | Test of whether working memory has improved, gotten worse, or stayed the same |
| Change in Activities Specific Balance Confidence Scale | Baseline, 1-month, 2 months, 3 months, 4 months | Self-report of whether confidence in balance has improved, gotten worse, or stayed the same |
| Change in FACT-Cog | Baseline, 1-month, 2 months, 3 months, 4 months | Self-report of whether cognitive function has improved, gotten worse, or stayed the same |
| Balance Task | 1-month | Stability with eyes closed and eyes open |
| Change in Patient Global Impression of Change | 1-month, 2 months, 3 months, 4 months | Self report of whether symptoms have improved, gotten worse, or stayed the same |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in pain Intensity past 7 days | Baseline, 1-month, 2 months, 3 months, 4 months | Self-report of whether intensity of pain has improved, gotten worse, or stayed the same |
| Current Pain Intensity | 1-month | Self-reported intensity of pain right now |
| Addiction Research Center Inventory Marijuana Survey | 1-month | Acute subjective effects of cannabis |
| Profile of Mood States | 1-month | Acute mood effects of cannabis |
| Change in PROMIS Global Health | Baseline, 1-month, 2 months, 3 months, 4 months | Self-report of whether general health and functioning has improved, gotten worse, or stayed the same |
| Change in Polypharmacy | Baseline, 1-month, 2 months, 3 months, 4 months | Measure of whether number and dosage of current medications has improved, gotten worse, or stayed the same |
| Change in Online Timeline Follow-back Assessment | Baseline, 1-month, 2 months, 3 months, 4 months | 30-day retrospective report of substance use (cannabis, alcohol, other drugs); measure of whether substance use has improved, gotten worse, or stayed the same |
| Change in Marijuana Consumption Questionnaire | Baseline, 1-month, 2 months, 3 months, 4 months | Self-report of whether frequency and quantity of cannabis use changes over time or stays the same |
| Drug Effects Questionnaire | 1-month | Acute subjective effects of cannabis |
| Change in Depression Anxiety Stress Scale | Baseline, 1-month, 2 months, 3 months, 4 months | Self-report of whether depression, anxiety and stress have improved, gotten worse, or stayed the same |
| Change in PROMIS Sleep Disturbance | Baseline, 1-month, 2 months, 3 months, 4 months | Self-report of whether sleep quality has improved, gotten worse, or stayed the same |
| Change in PROMIS Fatigue | Baseline, 1-month, 2 months, 3 months, 4 months | Measure of whether experience of fatigue has improved, gotten worse, or stayed the same |
| Change in PROMIS Pain Interference | Baseline, 1-month, 2 months, 3 months, 4 months | Self-report of whether the extent to which pain interferes with daily life activities has improved, gotten worse, or stayed the same |
Other
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in Blood Cannabinoids and Endocannabinoids | Baseline, 1-month | Quantitation of major and minor cannabinoids and endocannabinoids in blood; measure of whether cannabinoid levels change over time |
| Change in Flanker Inhibitory Control and Attention task | Baseline, 1-month | Measure of whether inhibition has improved, gotten worse, or stayed the same |
| Change in Expectancies about Cannabis | Baseline, 1-month, 2 months, 3 months, 4 months | Self-report of whether opinions about the health effects of cannabis has improved, gotten worse, or stayed the same |
| Change in Neurofilament Light | Baseline, 1-month | Quantitation of neuronal damage in blood; measure of whether damage change over time |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed