Cannabis Use Disorder
Conditions
Brief summary
The investigators will study the harm-reducing effect of hemp-derived CBD in non-treatment-seeking emerging adults who use cannabis regularly. The study will use a novel naturalistic cannabis administration approach, which examines ecologically valid cannabis use utilizing a mobile lab setting to assess the effects of the cannabis products the participants regularly use. The investigators will recruit a sample of emerging adults, half of whom primarily use flower products and half of whom primarily use concentrate products. Individuals will be randomly assigned to hemp-derived CBD or placebo.
Detailed description
Emerging adults have the highest prevalence of cannabis use and CUD of any age group. Despite high rates of use and CUD, treatment seeking is relatively uncommon among emerging adults. Those who use cannabis are less confident in their ability to abstain and show higher rates of ambivalence regarding the goal of abstinence than those who use other drugs. Thus, emerging adult cannabis users may be more receptive to non-abstinence or harm reduction approaches. The overarching aim of this proposal is to assess the effects of hemp-derived CBD in emerging adults on harms associated with cannabis use including subjective intoxication, affect and mood, psychotic experiences, and cognitive functioning, as well as to examine whether CBD supplementation reduces self-administration of THC and symptoms of CUD. The investigators propose a study design with high external validity and experimental controls to study the harm-reducing effect of hemp-derived CBD in non-treatment-seeking emerging adults who use cannabis regularly. The study will use a novel naturalistic cannabis administration approach, which examines ecologically valid cannabis use utilizing a mobile lab setting to assess the effects of the cannabis products the participants regularly use. The investigators will recruit a sample of emerging adults, half of whom primarily use flower products and half of whom primarily use concentrate products. Individuals will be randomly assigned to hemp-derived CBD or placebo, consistent with the preliminary studies that have approved US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Investigation New Drug (IND 153535 and 157515). The specific aims are to: Aim 1: Test whether assignment to hemp-derived CBD, relative to placebo, over 8 weeks is associated with a) reduced self-administration of THC, b) a reduction in CUD symptoms, c) lower levels of anxiety, depression, d) better cognitive function, and e) higher anandamide (AEA) levels. Hypothesis: Compared to baseline, the CBD group will demonstrate reduced THC administration, fewer CUD symptoms, lower levels of anxiety and depression, and better cognitive functioning at 4 and 8 weeks compared to the placebo group. At 12 weeks (4 weeks post-trial), these effects will persist. Assignment to CBD will be correlated with higher AEA levels. Aim 2: Test whether assignment to hemp-derived CBD, relative to placebo, reduces acute effects of cannabis administration on: a) subjective drug effects, b) cognitive function, and c) mood and psychotic symptoms. Hypothesis: Compared to cannabis self-administration at baseline (without CBD), the CBD group will demonstrate lower subjective drug effects (mood elevation, anxiety), fewer psychotic symptoms, and better cognitive functioning after cannabis self-administration at 4 and 8 weeks compared to the placebo group. At 12 weeks (4 weeks post-trial), these effects will persist. Aim 3: Test whether cannabis product type (flower vs. concentrates) moderates the association between CBD assignment and a) cannabis use, b) mood and anxiety, and c) cognitive functioning in both longer-term (aim 1) and acute (aim 2) effects. Hypothesis: CBD effects will be greater among those who use concentrates compared to those who use flower products for both longer-term and acute effects.
Interventions
Participants in this Arm will take 400 mg of bsCBD daily. Participants will take medication by mouth with food in the morning and evening.
DRUGPlacebo
Participants in this Arm will take a medically inert placebo. Participants will take medication by mouth with food in the morning and evening.
Sponsors
University of Colorado, Denver
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
OTHER
Masking
QUADRUPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Masking description
Participants will be blind to medication assignment, as will all care providers and investigators.
Intervention model description
Double-blind placebo controlled clinical trial
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 25 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
1. Ages 18-25 2. Must have used cannabis flower or concentrates at least five days per week for the past year. 3. Currently not seeking to cut down or stop cannabis use 4. At least two symptoms of a DSM-5 cannabis use disorder
Exclusion criteria
1. Use of any illicit substance besides alcohol, nicotine, or cannabis (e.g., cocaine, opiates, methamphetamine, MDMA, benzodiazepines, or barbiturates) in the past 60 days, as indicated by self-report and urine toxicology screening at the beginning of each study visit. 2. Alcohol use on 3 or more days per week, and/or \>3 drinks per drinking day in the past 60 days. Participants must also have a breath alcohol level of 0 at the beginning of each study visit. 3. Daily nicotine use. 4. Meets DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for a psychotic disorder (e.g., schizophrenia, schizophreniform disorder, schizoaffective disorder), bipolar disorder, major depression with suicidal ideation, or a history of treatment for these disorders. 5. Current cardiovascular or respiratory disease (e.g., coronary artery disease, severe asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) 6. Current use of any psychotropic (e.g., antidepressants, anxiogenics) or hepatotoxic medication. 7. Current use of anti-epileptic medications (e.g., clobazam, sodium valproate) or medications known to have major interactions with Epidiolex (buprenorphine, leflunomide, levomethadyl acetate, lomitapide, mipomersen, pexidartinib, propoxyphene, sodium oxybate, and/or teriflunomide) or a history of seizures. 8. Current use of strong or moderate CYP3A4 inhibitors or inducers (commonly used examples not captured by other
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Difference in blood THC-COOH levels | 8 weeks | THC-COOH levels in blood samples collected at baseline, Week 4, and Week 8 of medication ingestion. |
| Difference in blood THC levels | 1 hour pre and post THC self-administration at baseline, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks | THC levels in blood samples collected before and after cannabis use at baseline, Week 4, and Week 8 of medication ingestion. |
| Difference in cannabis use | 8 Weeks | Total number of days of cannabis use during the 8-week medication period as reported on daily diaries. |
Countries
United States
Contacts
CONTACTChristian J Hopfer, MD
CONTACTKristen M Raymond, BA
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORChristian J Hopfer, MD
University of Colorado, Denver
Outcome results
None listed