Behavioral Economic Analysis of Demand for Marijuana

This laboratory study will employ a multi-session experimental design to examine the behavioral economic demand for marijuana, by studying effect of marijuana administration (High THC) on demand for marijuana, and marijuana smoking topography. The study will recruit 100 non-treatment seeking marijuana users who smoke marijuana at least twice weekly.

This laboratory study will employ a multi-session experimental design to examine craving for marijuana, the effect of marijuana administration (High THC) on behavioral economic demand for marijuana, and marijuana smoking topography. The study will recruit 100 non-treatment seeking marijuana users who smoke marijuana at least twice weekly. The relationship between hypothetical and actual demand for marijuana will be examined. We will also investigate relationship between demand for marijuana and indices of marijuana smoking topography. The study will recruit 100 non-treatment seeking marijuana users who smoke marijuana at least twice weekly to obtain a final sample of 85 with complete data (15% of attrition). Participants will be tested at a baseline session and during two experimental sessions (an ad libitum marijuana smoking session and a marijuana smoking topography session). This study will confirm the utility of the hypothetical marijuana purchase task as a reliable and valid tool for assessing behavioral economic marijuana demand.

The Marijuana Purchase Task will be used to collect data on marijuana demand. Participants indicate how much marijuana they would purchase at varying levels of price (e.g., free - $60). Indices of marijuana demand are derived from the task and used to determine the relative value of marijuana for each participant.

MPT will be administered twice during the experimental session, up to 6 hours: at baseline and pre-smoking

The MCQ will be administered pre- and post- marijuana smoking during the experimental session, up to 6 hours

Indices of Marijuana Smoking Topography will be obtained during the experimental session. Participants will smoke marijuana through a smoking topography device. The device tracks number of puffs, puff length, and inter-puff-interval.

Marijuana smoking topography indices will be collected during the ad libitum marijuana smoking topography experimental session, up to 6 hours

Inclusion Criteria: marijuana use at least 8 times in the past month on average and at least monthly for the past 6 months English-speaking negative urine toxicology screen for drugs other than marijuana non-treatment seeking purchase of marijuana at least twice in the past 6 months to confirm familiarity with the construct to be measured Exclusion Criteria: positive pregnancy test nursing inability to use contraception during the study poor physical health positive breath alcohol concentration diagnosis of a current affective disorder, psychosis, and panic disorder self-report of past serious adverse reaction to marijuana current psychotropic drug use smoking more than 20 tobacco cigarettes per day inability to abstain from marijuana for 15 hours body mass index outside 18.5-30 kg/m2 range