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Differences in Cannabis Impairment and Its Measurement Due to Route of Administration

Primary Purpose

Behavioral Pharmacology of Cannabis

Status
Completed
Phase
Phase 1
Locations
United States
Study Type
Interventional
Intervention
cannabis
Sponsored by
Johns Hopkins University
About
Eligibility
Locations
Arms
Outcomes
Full info

About this trial

This is an interventional basic science trial for Behavioral Pharmacology of Cannabis

Eligibility Criteria

18 Years - 45 Years (Adult)All SexesAccepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Be in good general health based on a physical examination, medical history, vital signs, 12-lead ECG and screening urine and blood tests
  • Test negative for recent cannabis use in urine at the screening visit (confirmed by Gas Chromatography (GC)/ Mass Spectrometry (MS) laboratory test) and at clinic admission
  • Test negative for other drugs of abuse, including alcohol at the screening visit and at clinic admission
  • Demonstrate ability to expectorate 3-5 mL of "native" oral fluid over a 5-minute period
  • Not be pregnant or nursing (if female). All females must have a negative serum pregnancy test at the screening visit and a negative urine pregnancy test at clinic admission.
  • Have a body mass index (BMI) in the range of 19 to 36 kg/m2
  • Blood pressure at Screening Visit does not exceed a systolic blood pressure (SBP) of 150 mmHg or a diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of 90 mmHg
  • Have no allergies to any of the ingredients used to prepare cannabis brownies (chocolate, eggs, wheat, etc.).
  • Report prior experience inhaling cannabis (either via smoking or vaporization).

Exclusion Criteria:

  • History of or current evidence of significant medical or psychiatric illness judged by the investigator to put the participant at greater risk of experiencing an adverse event due to exposure or completion of other study procedures.
  • Use of an Over-the-Counter (OTC), systemic or topical drug(s), herbal supplement(s), or vitamin(s) within 14 days of experimental sessions; which, in the opinion of the investigator or sponsor, will interfere with the study result or the safety of the subject.
  • Use of a prescription medication (with the exception of birth control prescriptions) within 14 days of experimental sessions; which, in the opinion of the investigator or sponsor, will interfere with the study result or the safety of the subject.
  • Use of hemp seeds or hemp oil in any form in the past 3 months.
  • Use of dronabinol (Marinol) within the past 6 months.
  • History of xerostomia (dry mouth), or the presence of mucositis, gum infection or bleeding, or other significant oral cavity disease or disorder that in the investigator's opinion may affect the collection of oral fluid samples.
  • History of clinically significant cardiac arrhythmias or vasospastic disease (e.g., Prinzmetal's angina).
  • Abnormal EKG result that in the investigator's opinion is clinically significant.
  • Epilepsy or a history of seizures.
  • Enrolled in another clinical trial or have received any drug as part of a research study within 30 days prior to dosing

Sites / Locations

  • Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Arms of the Study

Arm 1

Arm 2

Arm 3

Arm 4

Arm 5

Arm 6

Arm Type

Placebo Comparator

Experimental

Experimental

Placebo Comparator

Experimental

Experimental

Arm Label

Placebo Oral Cannabis

Low-Dose Oral Cannabis

High-Dose Oral Cannabis

Placebo Vaporized Cannabis

Low-Dose Vaporized Cannabis

High-Dose Vaporized Cannabis

Arm Description

Single acute administration of placebo cannabis baked into a brownie

Single acute administration of cannabis containing 10mg THC baked into a brownie

Single acute administration of cannabis containing 25mg THC baked into a brownie

Single acute administration of placebo cannabis via commercial vaporizer

Single acute administration of placebo cannabis containing 5mg THC via commercial vaporizer

Single acute administration of placebo cannabis containing 20mg THC via commercial vaporizer

Outcomes

Primary Outcome Measures

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) Concentration in Blood
Quantitation of active drug (THC) in whole blood (ng/ml).

Secondary Outcome Measures

11-hydroxy-tetrahydrocannabinol (11-OH-THC)
Quantitation of THC metabolite in blood (ng/ml)
Tetrahydrocannabinolic Acid (THCCOOH)
Quantitation of THC metabolite in blood (ng/ml).
Change in Heart Rate
Peak change from baseline
Mean (SD) Peak Change-from-baseline Drug Effect Rating
Subjective rating of drug effect (0-100) at peak effect: between 2 and 5 hours for oral dosing conditions and 0 and 2 hours for vaporized conditions. Higher numbers mean stronger drug effects, where 0 means no drug effect and 100 means extremely strong drug effect.
Change From Baseline Behavioral Task Performance as Assessed by the DRUID App Score
Composite Global Impairment Score on the DRUID (DRiving Under the Influence of Drugs) App, a measure of behavioral task performance (range 0-100) where lower scores indicate better performance. ≥13-point change (from baseline) on DRUID global impairment score = "impaired"; <13-point change (from baseline) = "not impaired".
Peak Change in Blood Pressure
Systolic and Diastolic blood pressure will be measured at baseline and repeatedly for 8 hours after drug exposure. Outcome is the peak change from baseline assessed within the 8 hour period of assessment.

Full Information

First Posted
April 17, 2017
Last Updated
January 23, 2023
Sponsor
Johns Hopkins University
Collaborators
RTI International, National Institute of Justice, National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
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1. Study Identification

Unique Protocol Identification Number
NCT03122691
Brief Title
Differences in Cannabis Impairment and Its Measurement Due to Route of Administration
Official Title
Differences in Cannabis Impairment and Its Measurement Due to Route of Administration
Study Type
Interventional

2. Study Status

Record Verification Date
January 2023
Overall Recruitment Status
Completed
Study Start Date
May 1, 2018 (Actual)
Primary Completion Date
June 11, 2019 (Actual)
Study Completion Date
February 1, 2020 (Actual)

3. Sponsor/Collaborators

Responsible Party, by Official Title
Sponsor
Name of the Sponsor
Johns Hopkins University
Collaborators
RTI International, National Institute of Justice, National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

4. Oversight

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product
Yes
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product
No
Data Monitoring Committee
No

5. Study Description

Brief Summary
This research is being done to measure the effects of both oral and vaporized cannabis (marijuana), at different doses, on the ability to perform certain tasks such as balancing, eye tracking, and computerized measures of memory and attention, as well as performance on a novel app (DRUID) that is being developed for field sobriety testing. The investigators will collect biological fluids (urine, blood, saliva/spit) after cannabis is eaten or vaporized to see if there are markers in those fluids that can predict performance on the behavioral tasks and the DRUID App. The results of this study will help us better understand the effects of using cannabis, and to help identify behaviors and/or substances in the body that relate to cannabis impairment.

6. Conditions and Keywords

Primary Disease or Condition Being Studied in the Trial, or the Focus of the Study
Behavioral Pharmacology of Cannabis

7. Study Design

Primary Purpose
Basic Science
Study Phase
Phase 1
Interventional Study Model
Crossover Assignment
Masking
ParticipantOutcomes Assessor
Masking Description
Placebo controlled, double blind drug administration
Allocation
Randomized
Enrollment
23 (Actual)

8. Arms, Groups, and Interventions

Arm Title
Placebo Oral Cannabis
Arm Type
Placebo Comparator
Arm Description
Single acute administration of placebo cannabis baked into a brownie
Arm Title
Low-Dose Oral Cannabis
Arm Type
Experimental
Arm Description
Single acute administration of cannabis containing 10mg THC baked into a brownie
Arm Title
High-Dose Oral Cannabis
Arm Type
Experimental
Arm Description
Single acute administration of cannabis containing 25mg THC baked into a brownie
Arm Title
Placebo Vaporized Cannabis
Arm Type
Placebo Comparator
Arm Description
Single acute administration of placebo cannabis via commercial vaporizer
Arm Title
Low-Dose Vaporized Cannabis
Arm Type
Experimental
Arm Description
Single acute administration of placebo cannabis containing 5mg THC via commercial vaporizer
Arm Title
High-Dose Vaporized Cannabis
Arm Type
Experimental
Arm Description
Single acute administration of placebo cannabis containing 20mg THC via commercial vaporizer
Intervention Type
Drug
Intervention Name(s)
cannabis
Other Intervention Name(s)
marijuana
Intervention Description
Cannabis will be self-administered by study participants
Primary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) Concentration in Blood
Description
Quantitation of active drug (THC) in whole blood (ng/ml).
Time Frame
8 hours
Secondary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
11-hydroxy-tetrahydrocannabinol (11-OH-THC)
Description
Quantitation of THC metabolite in blood (ng/ml)
Time Frame
8 hours
Title
Tetrahydrocannabinolic Acid (THCCOOH)
Description
Quantitation of THC metabolite in blood (ng/ml).
Time Frame
8 hours
Title
Change in Heart Rate
Description
Peak change from baseline
Time Frame
Baseline, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 hours post drug exposure
Title
Mean (SD) Peak Change-from-baseline Drug Effect Rating
Description
Subjective rating of drug effect (0-100) at peak effect: between 2 and 5 hours for oral dosing conditions and 0 and 2 hours for vaporized conditions. Higher numbers mean stronger drug effects, where 0 means no drug effect and 100 means extremely strong drug effect.
Time Frame
Up to 5 hours
Title
Change From Baseline Behavioral Task Performance as Assessed by the DRUID App Score
Description
Composite Global Impairment Score on the DRUID (DRiving Under the Influence of Drugs) App, a measure of behavioral task performance (range 0-100) where lower scores indicate better performance. ≥13-point change (from baseline) on DRUID global impairment score = "impaired"; <13-point change (from baseline) = "not impaired".
Time Frame
8 hours
Title
Peak Change in Blood Pressure
Description
Systolic and Diastolic blood pressure will be measured at baseline and repeatedly for 8 hours after drug exposure. Outcome is the peak change from baseline assessed within the 8 hour period of assessment.
Time Frame
8 hours post drug exposure

10. Eligibility

Sex
All
Minimum Age & Unit of Time
18 Years
Maximum Age & Unit of Time
45 Years
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Be in good general health based on a physical examination, medical history, vital signs, 12-lead ECG and screening urine and blood tests Test negative for recent cannabis use in urine at the screening visit (confirmed by Gas Chromatography (GC)/ Mass Spectrometry (MS) laboratory test) and at clinic admission Test negative for other drugs of abuse, including alcohol at the screening visit and at clinic admission Demonstrate ability to expectorate 3-5 mL of "native" oral fluid over a 5-minute period Not be pregnant or nursing (if female). All females must have a negative serum pregnancy test at the screening visit and a negative urine pregnancy test at clinic admission. Have a body mass index (BMI) in the range of 19 to 36 kg/m2 Blood pressure at Screening Visit does not exceed a systolic blood pressure (SBP) of 150 mmHg or a diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of 90 mmHg Have no allergies to any of the ingredients used to prepare cannabis brownies (chocolate, eggs, wheat, etc.). Report prior experience inhaling cannabis (either via smoking or vaporization). Exclusion Criteria: History of or current evidence of significant medical or psychiatric illness judged by the investigator to put the participant at greater risk of experiencing an adverse event due to exposure or completion of other study procedures. Use of an Over-the-Counter (OTC), systemic or topical drug(s), herbal supplement(s), or vitamin(s) within 14 days of experimental sessions; which, in the opinion of the investigator or sponsor, will interfere with the study result or the safety of the subject. Use of a prescription medication (with the exception of birth control prescriptions) within 14 days of experimental sessions; which, in the opinion of the investigator or sponsor, will interfere with the study result or the safety of the subject. Use of hemp seeds or hemp oil in any form in the past 3 months. Use of dronabinol (Marinol) within the past 6 months. History of xerostomia (dry mouth), or the presence of mucositis, gum infection or bleeding, or other significant oral cavity disease or disorder that in the investigator's opinion may affect the collection of oral fluid samples. History of clinically significant cardiac arrhythmias or vasospastic disease (e.g., Prinzmetal's angina). Abnormal EKG result that in the investigator's opinion is clinically significant. Epilepsy or a history of seizures. Enrolled in another clinical trial or have received any drug as part of a research study within 30 days prior to dosing
Overall Study Officials:
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Ryan Vandrey, PhD
Organizational Affiliation
Johns Hopkins University
Official's Role
Principal Investigator
Facility Information:
Facility Name
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
City
Baltimore
State/Province
Maryland
ZIP/Postal Code
21231
Country
United States

12. IPD Sharing Statement

Plan to Share IPD
No

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Differences in Cannabis Impairment and Its Measurement Due to Route of Administration

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