Repeated Administration of Cannabis Varying in THC and CBD

The majority of the >3 million medical cannabis patients in the U.S. use cannabis products to manage pain but many questions remain. This project is designed to answer three questions that will fill important voids in the field's understanding of sustained cannabis use: 1) is abrupt cessation of cannabis associated with increased pain sensitivity; 2) does tolerance develop to the analgesic and abuse-related effects of repeatedly administered cannabis with varying ratios of THC and CBD, and is this tolerance reversible following a period of abstinence; 3) how does repeated cannabis use affect levels of endocannabinoids, and are these changes associated with changes in pain sensitivity and abuse liability? In this study, the investigators will enroll participants (N=100 healthy, cannabis-using men and non-pregnant women, ages 21-65) inpatient for 15 days. They will be randomized to one of four cannabis conditions (n=25/group). Following a day of standardization on which participants will receive their assigned cannabis condition (Day 1), cannabis will be administered repeatedly for 14 days (Day 2-15). The investigators will measure abuse-related effects ("Good Drug Effect"), endocannabinoid levels and two distinct types of experimental pain: The Cold Pressor Test and Quantitative Sensory Testing Thermal Temporal Summation. Given the widespread use of cannabis for pain, understanding the consequences of daily repeated administration of cannabis with THC:CBD ratios that are representative of most medical cannabis products on pain, abuse liability, and endocannabinoids is imperative.

Why the study stopped: In response to quality assurance and compliance concerns, OHRP issued an FWA restriction on NYSPI research that included a pause of human research as of June 23, 2023.

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Key information

Conditions

Cannabis Chemically-Induced Disorders Marijuana Abuse Mental Disorders Substance-Related Disorders

Age range

21 year–65 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 2

Primary location

New York State Psychiatric Institute

New York, 10032, United States

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Males or females, 21-65 years old
For females: not pregnant or breast-feeding, and uses an acceptable form of birth control (e.g., condoms, IUD)
Uses cannabis on a near-daily basis
Not seeking treatment for cannabis use
Able to provide informed consent
Able to perform study procedures

Exclusion criteria

Meets DSM-V criteria for any Substance Use Disorder other than cannabis, nicotine or caffeine
Uses other illicit drugs ≥1 day/week in the prior 4 weeks
Medical history, physical, psychiatric examination, or significant illness at the clinical discretion of the study physician; for example, history of heart disease, diabetes, hypertension (BP > 140/90) or uncontrolled asthma

Use of any prescription or daily use of over-the-counter medications 6. Recurrent, ongoing pain 7. Insensitivity to the thermal stimuli of the Cold Pressor Test or Quantitative Sensory Testing 8. History of physical violence or paranoia during cannabis withdrawal

Treatment and study plan

Cannabis

Drug

Vaporized cannabis will be administered 3x/day for 15 days.

Primary outcomes

Cold Pressor Test (Change over time from baseline)

Time frame: 8x/day on Days 1, 2, 5, 8, 9, 12, 15.

The Cold Pressor Test (CPT) is a validated and reliable pain-induction procedure that reflects A-delta nerve fiber activity within the autonomic nervous system and closely mimics clinical chronic pain. CPT has been shown to have excellent reliability and predictive validity for medication-induced analgesia, including cannabinoids. For this task, two temperature-controlled circulating water baths maintain warm (36.5-37.5ºC) and cold (3.5-4.5ºC) water. Participants immerse their hand into a warm bath for 3 min (to standardize baseline skin temperature), then the cold bath, indicating when they first experience pain and withdrawing when the pain gets uncomfortable. Study staff will record time (in seconds) until participants: 1) report discomfort (pain threshold), and 2) withdraw their hand from the cold water (pain tolerance).
Quantitative Sensory Testing-Thermal Temporal Summation (QST-TTS; change over time from baseline)

Time frame: 8x/day on Days 1, 2, 5, 8, 9, 12, 15.

(QST-TTS) uses repetitive fixed frequency and intensity heat stimulation to induce central sensitization of C-fibers in the spinal cord and is regarded as an experimental correlate of the 'wind-up' phenomenon in the dorsal horn. As dorsal horn CB-1 activity has been linked to suppression of 'wind-up' and central sensitization (the mechanism purportedly underlying cannabis' efficacy for neuropathic pain), cannabis use may decrease QST-TTS response, mirroring analgesia on the CPT during active cannabis administration vs. placebo. For this task, a Medoc TSA-II NeuroSensory Analyzer with a 30 x 30 mm Peltier thermode applies tonic noxious heat stimulation to the thenar eminence of the palm: the baseline temperature is 32.0°C, increases at a rate of 1°C/s up to 46.5°C, and remains constant for 120 sec. Total duration.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

New York State Psychiatric Institute

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Repeated Administration of Cannabis Varying in THC and CBD: Effects on Abuse Liability, Experimental Pain and Plasma Endocannabinoids

Important dates

Study start: 2026
Primary completion: 2032
Study completion: 2034
First posted: Oct 3, 2022
Registry last updated: Sep 1, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

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This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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