The Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Hemp-based Topical Cannabinoid Products

This study will evaluate the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic effects of hemp-based Cannabidiol (CBD) topical products (e.g., lotions, creams, patches) that contain low levels of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Cannabis; Drug Effect
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: CBD; Drug: THC; Drug: Placebo

Detailed Description

A total of 5 topical cannabinoid products will be examined in this study. The study will be conducted in 5 discrete stages, one for each product. In each stage, participants (N=20), will be randomized to 1 of 2 double-blind drug conditions that entail the use of: 1) a topical product that contains CBD and a low amount of THC (N=15), or 2) a placebo topical product that does not contain cannabinoids (N=5), but which contains similar non-cannabinoid ingredients to the active product. Thus, overall 100 participants will complete the study (75 active, 25 placebo).

Participants in each stage will complete a three-phase outpatient protocol that will last a total of 17 days. Phase 1 (Day 1) will be an acute laboratory dosing session (approximately 7 hours in duration). Phase 2 (Days 2-10) will be an outpatient dosing period, during which participants will continue to use participants' assigned product twice daily (morning and evening) in participants' own environment. During Phase 2, participants will visit the laboratory for brief study sessions on Days 2, 3, 7, and 10. Phase 3, will consist of a final follow-up visit on Day 17, after a 1-week drug washout. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic assessments (subjective and cognitive effects) will be assessed during each phase.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 47
• Phase: Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

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

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 55 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 55
3. Be in good general health based on a physical examination, medical history, vital signs, and screening urine and blood tests
4. Test negative for recent cannabis use in urine at the screening visit and again upon admission for each experimental session
5. Test negative for other drugs of abuse, including alcohol, at the screening visit and upon arrival for each experimental session
6. 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 each study visit.
7. Have a body mass index (BMI) in the range of 19 to 36 kg/m^2
8. Have head hair that is at least 4 cm (approximately one and a half inches) in length on the back of the head.
9. 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
10. Report prior experience using cannabis or CBD products.
11. Have not donated blood in the prior 30 days.
12. Have a smart phone, tablet, computer, etc. capable of recording videos and operating Redcap.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Non-medical use of psychoactive drugs other than, nicotine, alcohol, or caffeine in the 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 over-the-counter (OTC), systemic or topical drug(s), herbal supplement(s), vitamin(s), or prescription medications (with the exception of birth control prescriptions) within 14 days of study entry; which, in the opinion of the investigator or sponsor, will interfere with the study results or the safety of the subject.
4. Use of hemp seeds or hemp oil in any form in the past 3 months.
5. Use of dronabinol (Marinol) within the past 6 months.
6. 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.
7. History of clinically significant cardiac arrhythmias or vasospastic disease (e.g., Prinzmetal's angina).
8. Known allergy to any ingredients in the active or placebo topical products.
9. Enrolled in another clinical trial or have received any drug as part of a research study within 30 days prior to dosing.
10. Epilepsy or a history of seizures.
11. Individuals with anemia.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Basic Science
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Topical CBD Product with low level of THC; Participants will topically apply a high CBD-product that also contains low levels of THC.	Drug: CBD; CBD will be topically applied; Drug: THC; THC will be topically applied
Placebo Comparator: Placebo topical product; Participants will topically apply a placebo product that does not contain cannabinoids.	Drug: Placebo; a placebo product (without cannabinoids) will be topically applied

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Urine cannabinoids	Concentration of cannabinoids will be measured in urine (unit of measurement: nanograms/mL)	Days 1, 2, 3, 7, 10, and 17
Change in Blood cannabinoids	Concentration of cannabinoids will be measured in blood (unit of measurement: nanograms/mL)	Days 1, 2, 3, 7, 10, and 17

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Oral fluid cannabinoids	Concentration of cannabinoids will be measured in oral fluid (unit of measurement: nanograms/mL)	Days 1, 2, 3, 7, 10, and 17
Change in Hair cannabinoids	Concentration of cannabinoids will be measured in hair (unit of measurement: nanograms/mL)	Days 1 and 17
Change in Subjective drug effects as assessed by the Drug Effect Questionnaire	Subjective drug effect ratings (0-100) will be collected with the Drug Effect Questionnaire, with 0 being no effect and 100 being maximum effect.	Days 1, 2, 3, 7, 10, and 17
Change in Cognitive performance as assessed by the Divided Attention Task	Cognitive performance will be evaluated with the Divided Attention Task. Will be measured as the mean distance (in computer pixels) of the mouse cursor from the central stimulus.	Days 1, 2, 3, 7, 10, and 17
Change in Working memory performance as assessed by the Paced Serial Addition Task	Working memory performance will be evaluated with the Paced Serial Addition Task (scores can range from 0-90) with 90 indicating perfect performance.	Days 1, 2, 3, 7, 10, and 17
Change in Psychomotor performance as assessed by the Digit Symbol Substitution Task	Psychomotor performance will be evaluated with the Digit Symbol Substitution Task. Will be measured as the number of correct trials within 90 seconds.	Days 1, 2, 3, 7, 10, and 17

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Johns Hopkins University
• Collaborators: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): July 14, 2021
• Primary Completion (Actual): September 16, 2022
• Study Completion (Actual): September 16, 2022

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 2, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 2, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): February 5, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): March 10, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 8, 2023
• Last Verified: March 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Chemically-Induced Disorders; Substance-Related Disorders; Marijuana Abuse
• Other Study ID Numbers: IRB00277556; 1-340-0216610-65527L (Other Grant/Funding Number: Substance Abuse And Mental Health Administration)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: Yes
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No