A Study of Inhaled Cannabidiol in Healthy Occasional Cannabis Users

A Randomized, Triple Blinded Cross-over Placebo Controlled Study of Effects of Inhaled Cannabidiol in Healthy Occasional Cannabis Users

The purposes of this study are 1) to determine if the administration of different low doses of CBD (5 mg, 20 mg, 50 mg and 100 mg) result in detectable subjective pleasant drug effect compared to placebo and 2) to qualitatively explore whether low dose CBD is associated with effects that are not detected with the available research tools.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Cannabis
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Cannabis, placebo

Detailed Description

Cannabis contains over 100 cannabinoids, the two most prominent being Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). A growing body of evidence exists surrounding the effects of both THC and CBD, however, less is known about the specific effects of CBD concentrations alone. Most existing data regarding the effects of CBD come from studies where this compound is administered in high doses in a therapeutic context, and where the subject can be administered either CBD, THC or both together. These contexts are not representative of the current use by many consumers. Indeed, several available products contain CBD at much lower doses. The overall objective of this study is to evaluate the acute behavioral and biological effects of low doses of CBD (between 5-100mg) and placebo in occasional cannabis users. Potential outcomes not detected with usual assessment tools designed to evaluate THC-induced effects will also be explored.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 80
• Phase: Phase 2; Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Pamela Lachance, PhD; Phone Number: 30938 514-890-8000; Email: pamela.lachance-touchette.chum@ssss.gouv.qc.ca
• Study Contact Backup: Name: François-Olivier Hébert, PhD; Phone Number: 581-741-4941; Email: francois-olivier.hebert.chum@ssss.gouv.qc.ca

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 21 years to 65 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Between 21 and 49 years of age, inclusively;
2. Have used cannabis at least once in lifetime AND have used cannabis three days or less in the 28 days prior to enrollment;
3. Be able to provide a signed informed consent;
4. Willing to comply with study procedures and requirements as per protocol, including to abstain from using other cannabis products or any drugs (except alcohol or nicotine) 7 days prior to study visits;
5. Have a forced expiratory volume in first second (FEV) sup 90 %;
6. Able to communicate and understand English or French language;

7. For female participants:

   a. Without childbearing potential, defined as: i. postmenopausal (12 months of spontaneous amenorrhea and ≥ 45 years of age); or ii. Documented surgically sterilized (i.e., tubal ligation, hysterectomy, or bilateral oophorectomy); or

   b. With childbearing potential: i. Must have negative pregnancy test result at screening and at subsequent visits.

ii. AND have no pregnancy plan while on the trial iii. AND must agree to use a medically accepted method of birth control throughout the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Any disabling medical conditions, as assessed by medical history, physical exam, vital signs and/or laboratory assessments that, in the opinion of the study physician, precludes safe participation in the study or the ability to provide fully informed consent;
2. Severe psychiatric condition (e.g. history of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder or bipolar disorder; current acute psychosis, mania or current suicidality, acute depression or anxiety disorder based on the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview);
3. Any other disabling, unstable, or acute mental condition that, in the opinion of the study physician, precludes safe participation in the study or ability to provide informed consent;
4. Known chronic liver disease or aspartate transaminase/alanine transaminase (AST/ALT) two times higher than upper limit of normal values at screening visit;
5. Blood pressure higher than 130/80 mmHg;
6. Kidney disorders;
7. Bleeding disorders;
8. Current moderate or severe DSM-5 (The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) substance use disorder (except nicotine) according to the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-V ;
9. Currently pregnant,breastfeeding or planning to become pregnant either at screening or while enrolled in the study;
10. Pending legal action or other reason that, in the opinion of the study physician, might prevent study completion;
11. Use of medication within 7 days of experimental sessions, which, in the opinion of the investigator, may interact with cannabis;
12. Participation in clinical studies or undergoing other investigational procedures involving cannabis or cannabinoids administration within 30 days prior to randomization;
13. Resting heart rate over 100 beats per minute;
14. Current body mass index (BMI) over 29.9 kg/m2;
15. Any clinically significant electrocardiogram abnormalities at screening visit.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: Quadruple

Number of Arms

5

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: CBD (Group 1); Group will receive four CBD doses (5 mg, 20 mg, 50 mg and 100 mg), and placebo (0 mg). Group will attend a total of five study visits (one for each study product) with at least 1 week between each visit. The order in which the study products will be administered depend on the randomization sequence	Drug: Cannabis, placebo; Eligible participant will be randomize 1:1:1:1:1 to receive placebo, CBD (5mg, 20mg, 50mg and 100mg). Only one research product will be inhaled for each visit. The sequence will depend on the assigned randomization group.
Experimental: CBD (Group 2); Group will receive four CBD doses (5 mg, 20 mg, 50 mg and 100 mg), and placebo (0 mg). Group will attend a total of five study visits (one for each study product) with at least 1 week between each visit. The order in which the study products will be administered depend on the randomization sequence	Drug: Cannabis, placebo; Eligible participant will be randomize 1:1:1:1:1 to receive placebo, CBD (5mg, 20mg, 50mg and 100mg). Only one research product will be inhaled for each visit. The sequence will depend on the assigned randomization group.
Experimental: CBD (Group 3); Group will receive four CBD doses (5 mg, 20 mg, 50 mg and 100 mg), and placebo (0 mg). Group will attend a total of five study visits (one for each study product) with at least 1 week between each visit. The order in which the study products will be administered depend on the randomization sequence.	Drug: Cannabis, placebo; Eligible participant will be randomize 1:1:1:1:1 to receive placebo, CBD (5mg, 20mg, 50mg and 100mg). Only one research product will be inhaled for each visit. The sequence will depend on the assigned randomization group.
Experimental: CBD (Group 4); Group will receive four CBD doses (5 mg, 20 mg, 50 mg and 100 mg), and placebo (0 mg). Group will attend a total of five study visits (one for each study product) with at least 1 week between each visit. The order in which the study products will be administered depend on the randomization sequence.	Drug: Cannabis, placebo; Eligible participant will be randomize 1:1:1:1:1 to receive placebo, CBD (5mg, 20mg, 50mg and 100mg). Only one research product will be inhaled for each visit. The sequence will depend on the assigned randomization group.
Experimental: CBD (Group 5); Group will receive four CBD doses (5 mg, 20 mg, 50 mg and 100 mg), and placebo (0 mg). Group will attend a total of five study visits (one for each study product) with at least 1 week between each visit. The order in which the study products will be administered depend on the randomization sequence.	Drug: Cannabis, placebo; Eligible participant will be randomize 1:1:1:1:1 to receive placebo, CBD (5mg, 20mg, 50mg and 100mg). Only one research product will be inhaled for each visit. The sequence will depend on the assigned randomization group.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Pleasant drug effect	Pleasant drug effect will be assessed using a single item, visual analog scale, administered following administration of the study product at each study visit. It is rated on a continuous scale ranging from 0 (not at all) to 100 (extremely).	T1(10 minutes after inhalation)
Pleasant drug effect	Pleasant drug effect will be assessed using a single item, visual analog scale, administered following administration of the study product at each study visit. It is rated on a continuous scale ranging from 0 (not at all) to 100 (extremely).	T2 (80 minutes after inhalation)
Pleasant drug effect	Pleasant drug effect will be assessed using a single item, visual analog scale, administered following administration of the study product at each study visit. It is rated on a continuous scale ranging from 0 (not at all) to 100 (extremely).	T3 (140 minutes after inhalation)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Drug Effects associated with cannabis administration	Drug Effects Questionnaire (twenty-three-item) will be use to assess participant's physical signs, symptoms associated with cannabis administration and desire to use cannabis. The Drug Effects Questionnaire uses visual analogue scale, ranging from 0 (not at all) to 100 (extremely).	T1 (10 minutes after inhalation)
Visit Intoxication Assessment	Signs of intoxication will be assess using the modified Standardized Field Sobriety Test.	End of the visit, approximatively 180 minutes after inhalation
Drug Effects associated with cannabis administration	Drug Effects Questionnaire (twenty-three-item) will be use to assess participant's physical signs, symptoms associated with cannabis administration and desire to use cannabis. The Drug Effects Questionnaire uses visual analogue scale, ranging from 0 (not at all) to 100 (extremely).	T2 (80 minutes after inhalation)
Drug Effects associated with cannabis administration	Drug Effects Questionnaire (twenty-three-item) will be use to assess participant's physical signs, symptoms associated with cannabis administration and desire to use cannabis. The Drug Effects Questionnaire uses visual analogue scale, ranging from 0 (not at all) to 100 (extremely).	T3 (140 minutes after inhalation)
Change in dissociation	Dissociation will be assessed using the Clinician Administered Dissociative States Scale (CADSS) administered at Baseline (T0) and following administration of the study product (T1- 10 minutes, T2-60 minutes) at each study visit. The CADSS, a 28-items validated instrument, includes 5 observer items and 23 participant self-report items rated on a 5-point scale, ranging from 0 (not at all) to 4 (extremely). Minimum score :0 not at all; Maximum score 72 extremely dissociate.	Baseline and after inhalation at (10 minutes, 80 minutes)
Cannabis-Specific Subjective Effects	Subjective effects of cannabis will be assessed using both the positive and negative subscales of the Cannabis Experience Questionnaire administered following administration study product. Each item is rated on a 5-point scale, ranging from 1 (not at all) to 5 (severely).The positive subscale includes16 items related to euphoric experiences (maximum 90 and minimum 16). The negative subscale includes 25 items related to paranoid-dysphoric experiences (Maximum 125 and minimum 25).	T3 (140 minutes after inhalation)
Change in Affect	Affect will be measured using the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule administered at Baseline (T0) and following administration of the study product at each study visit. The Positive and Negative Affect Schedule is a 20-item validated questionnaire divided into subscales of positive (10 items) and negative affect (10 items). Each item is rated on a 5-point scale ranging from 1 (not at all) to 5 (extremely). For each subscale minimum is 10 and maximum 50.	Baseline and after inhalation at (10 minutes, 80 minutes, 140 minutes)
Change in Anxiety Symptoms	Symptoms of anxiety will be assessed using the States-Trait-Anxiety-Inventory, a 20-item validated self-report scale that measures the severity of anxiety in adults.. Each symptom is rated on a 4-point scale ranging from 1 (not at all) to 4 (very much).	Baseline and after inhalation at (10 minutes, 80 minutes and 140 minutes)
Change in Safety	Adverse events will be collected prior to administration of the study product (T0) and following administration of the study product (T1, T2 and T3)	Baseline and after inhalation at (10 minutes, 80 minutes, 140 minutes)
Change on cognition	The Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery tests will be used for the rapid assessment of multiple cognitive components.	Baseline and after inhalation at T2 (80 minutes).

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in plasma concentration of CBD	Plasma levels of CBD will be determined by high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry at baseline and after inhalation.	Baseline and after inhalation at ( 5 minutes, 15 minutes, 80 minutes, 110 minutes, 140 minutes)
Change in plasma concentration of 7-Hydroxycannabidiol	Plasma levels of CBD will be determined by high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry at baseline and after inhalation.	Baseline and after inhalation at ( 5 minutes, 15 minutes, 80 minutes, 110 minutes, 140 minutes)
Change in plasma concentration of 7-Carboxy-Cannabidiol	Plasma levels of CBD will be determined by high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry at baseline and after inhalation.	Baseline and after inhalation at ( 5 minutes, 15 minutes, 80 minutes, 110 minutes, 140 minutes)
Change in plasma concentration of Anandamide	Plasma levels of CBD will be determined by high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry at baseline and after inhalation.	Baseline and after inhalation at ( 5 minutes, 15 minutes, 80 minutes, 110 minutes, 140 minutes)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM)
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Didier Jutras-Aswad, MD,MS, Centre Hospitalier de l'Universite de Montreal (CHUM)

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): September 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): October 1, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 20, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 1, 2022
• First Posted (Actual): April 11, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): December 22, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 16, 2025
• Last Verified: December 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Substance-Related Disorders; Chemically-Induced Disorders; Marijuana Abuse; nabiximols
• Other Study ID Numbers: 21.361

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