Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Effects of Oral Cannabis

September 13, 2018 updated by: Ryan Vandrey, Johns Hopkins University
Few studies have been conducted to assess the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic effects of orally consumed intact cannabis (e.g., cannabis-containing brownies). Careful analysis of oral cannabis dose effects on these parameters is required to determine the level and duration of biological cannabinoid exposure and associated subjective, cardiovascular and cognitive effects. In the present study we evaluated the detection of cannabinoids in oral fluid, plasma, hair, and urine for up to 9 days following consumption of oral cannabis (10mg, 25mg, or 50mg THC). The outcomes of the study will extend scientific knowledge about the behavioral pharmacology and toxicology of oral cannabis administration and can inform policies regarding clinical, workplace and roadside drug testing programs.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
24

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Maryland
      • Baltimore, Maryland, United States, 21224
        • Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Behavioral Pharmacology Research Unit

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 45 years (ADULT)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Have provided written informed consent
  2. Be between the ages of 18 and 45
  3. Be in good general health based on a physical examination, medical history, vital signs, 12-lead ECG and screening urine and blood tests
  4. Test negative for recent cannabis use in urine at the screening visit (confirmed by GC/MS laboratory test) and at clinic admission
  5. Test negative for other drugs of abuse, including alcohol at the screening visit and at clinic admission
  6. Demonstrate ability to expectorate 3-5 mL of "native" oral fluid over a 5-minute period
  7. 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.
  8. Have a body mass index (BMI) in the range of 19 to 36 kg/m2
  9. Have head hair that is at least 4 cm (approximately one and a half inches) in length on the back of the head.
  10. 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
  11. Have no allergies to any of the ingredients used to prepare cannabis brownies (chocolate, eggs, wheat, etc.).

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Non-medical use of psychoactive drugs other than, nicotine, alcohol, or caffeine 3 month prior to the Screening Visit;
  2. 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.
  3. Use of an 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.
  4. 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.
  5. Use of hemp seeds or hemp oil in any form in the past 3 months.
  6. Use of dronabinol (Marinol) within the past 6 months.
  7. 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.
  8. History of clinically significant cardiac arrhythmias or vasospastic disease (e.g., Prinzmetal's angina).
  9. Abnormal EKG result that in the investigator's opinion is clinically significant.
  10. Enrolled in another clinical trial or have received any drug as part of a research study within 30 days prior to dosing.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: BASIC_SCIENCE
  • Allocation: RANDOMIZED
  • Interventional Model: SINGLE_GROUP
  • Masking: DOUBLE

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
EXPERIMENTAL: 10mg acute oral cannabis
Drug: Oral cannabis
EXPERIMENTAL: 25mg acute oral cannabis
Drug: Oral cannabis
EXPERIMENTAL: 50mg acute oral cannabis
Drug: Oral cannabis

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Blood THC
Time Frame: baseline and 0.2, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 12, 22, 26, 30, 34, 46, 50, 54, 58, 70, 74, 78, 82, 94, 98, 102, 106, 118, 122, 126, and 130 hours post exposure
baseline and 0.2, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 12, 22, 26, 30, 34, 46, 50, 54, 58, 70, 74, 78, 82, 94, 98, 102, 106, 118, 122, 126, and 130 hours post exposure
Urine THC-COOH
Time Frame: Baseline and 1, 2, 3, 4, 4-6 hours, 6-8 hours, 8-10 hours, 10-12 hours and then every 4 hours up until the 130 hour post exposure time point
Baseline and 1, 2, 3, 4, 4-6 hours, 6-8 hours, 8-10 hours, 10-12 hours and then every 4 hours up until the 130 hour post exposure time point
Oral Fluid THC
Time Frame: baseline and 0.2, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 12, 22, 26, 30, 34, 46, 50, 54, 58, 70, 74, 78, 82, 94, 98, 102, 106, 118, 122, 126, and 130 hours post exposure
baseline and 0.2, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 12, 22, 26, 30, 34, 46, 50, 54, 58, 70, 74, 78, 82, 94, 98, 102, 106, 118, 122, 126, and 130 hours post exposure
Subjective rating of "Drug Effect"
Time Frame: baseline, immediately after exposure and 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8 hours post exposure
Visual analog scale ratings of subjective intoxication
baseline, immediately after exposure and 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8 hours post exposure

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Johns Hopkins University

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
RTI International
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Ryan Vandrey, PhD, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (ACTUAL)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
June 1, 2014

Primary Completion (ACTUAL)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
September 1, 2014

Study Completion (ACTUAL)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
September 1, 2014

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
June 12, 2014

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
June 13, 2014

First Posted (ESTIMATE)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
June 17, 2014

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (ACTUAL)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
September 17, 2018

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
September 13, 2018

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
September 1, 2018

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • IRB00035394

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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