Facilitating the Behavioral Treatment of Cannabis Use Disorder

Individuals diagnosed with cannabis dependence will receive one or two infusions of glutamate modulators during week 2 and week 3 or 4. The participants will also receive 2-week course of MET and 4-week course of MBRP. Participants will meet with staff twice weekly, except for week 2 and potentially week 3 or 4 during which participants will present to the clinic three times. Clinic visits include MET sessions, MBRP sessions, psychiatric monitoring, assessments, and study procedures (e.g., medication administration).

Inclusion criteria

• Meets DSM-IV criteria for cannabis dependence, with at least 5 days of use per week over the past 30 days and displaying at least one positive utox during screening
• Physically healthy
• No adverse reactions to study medications
• 21-60 years of age
• Capacity to consent and comply with study procedures
• Seeking treatment

Exclusion criteria

• Meets DSM IV criteria for current major depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, any psychotic illness, including substance-induced psychosis, and current substance-induced mood disorder.
• Physiological dependence on another substance requiring medical management, such as alcohol, opioids, or benzodiazepines, excluding caffeine, and nicotine.
• Pregnant, interested in becoming pregnant, or lactating
• Delirium, Dementia, Amnesia, Cognitive Disorders, or dissociative disorders
• Current suicide risk or a history of suicide attempt within the past 2 years
• On psychotropic or other medication whose effect could be disrupted by participation in the study
• Recent history of significant violence (past 2 years).
• Heart disease as indicated by history, abnormal ECG, previous cardiac surgery.
• Unstable physical disorders which might make participation hazardous such as end-stage AIDS, hypertension (>140/90), anemia, pulmonary disease, active hepatitis or other liver disease (transaminase levels < 2-3 X the upper limit of normal will be considered acceptable), or untreated diabetes
• Previous history of misuse of study medications
• BMI > 35, or a history of undocumented obstructive sleep apnea
• First degree relative with a psychotic disorder (bipolar disorder with psychotic features, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or psychosis NOS)