The Pharmacokinetics of a Hemp-Based Topical Product

May 18, 2026 updated by: Johns Hopkins University

The Pharmacokinetics of a Hemp-Based Topical Cannabinoid Product in a Sanitized and Controlled Environment

This study will evaluate the pharmacokinetic effects of acute and chronic dosing of a hemp-based cannabidiol (CBD) topical lotion with low levels of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in a sanitized and controlled environment.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Participants (N = 6) will complete an 7-day residential study using a high CBD/low D9-THC lotion. The lotion is applied to the participants' upper arms four times daily in a sanitized and controlled procedure that eliminates the potential for specimen contamination. Oral fluid (OF) is collected before and after application (six samples/day); blood and urine are collected once/day. On discharge day, participants provide an intentionally contaminated OF sample. Participants return after a 7-day washout to provide 4 additional OF specimens, one "clean" and three more intentionally contaminated samples over a two-hour course.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

20

Phase

  • 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 Contact

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Maryland
      • Baltimore, Maryland, United States, 21224
        • Behavioral Pharmacology Research Unit
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Tory Spindle, Ph.D.

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

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Have provided written informed consent
  • Be between the ages of 18 and 55
  • Be in good general health based on a physical examination, medical history, vital signs, and screening urine and blood tests
  • Test negative for recent cannabis use in urine at the screening visit and again upon admission for the inpatient stay.
  • Test negative for other drugs of abuse, including alcohol, at the screening visit and again upon admission for the inpatient stay.
  • 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.
  • Have a body mass index (BMI) in the range of 18 to 38 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
  • Report prior experience using cannabis or CBD products.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Non-medical use of psychoactive drugs other than, nicotine, alcohol, or caffeine in the month prior to the screening visit.
  • 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.
  • Current use of medications which, in the opinion of the investigator or medical monitor, will interfere with the study results or the safety of the subject.
  • 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.
  • Known allergy to any ingredients in the study drug.
  • 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: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

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

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in concentration of oral fluid cannabinoids
Time Frame: Days 1-7 and Day 14
Concentration of cannabinoids will be measured in oral fluid (unit of measurement: nanograms/mL)
Days 1-7 and Day 14

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in concentration of blood cannabinoids
Time Frame: Days 1-7 and Day 14
Concentration of cannabinoids will be measured in blood (unit of measurement: nanograms/mL)
Days 1-7 and Day 14
Change concentration of urine cannabinoids
Time Frame: Days 1-7 and Day 14
Concentration of cannabinoids will be measured in urine (unit of measurement: nanograms/mL)
Days 1-7 and Day 14
Change in the number of total minutes of sleep
Time Frame: Days 1-7
Change in sleep patterns. Change in the number of total minutes of sleep will be measured via vital monitoring and sleep profiling
Days 1-7

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Johns Hopkins University

Collaborators

RTI International
Substance Abuse And Mental Health Administration

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Tory Spindle, PhD, Johns Hopkins University

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 (Estimated)

June 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

August 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

September 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 18, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 18, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

May 22, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

May 22, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 18, 2026

Last Verified

May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • IRB00542166
  • 1-312-0218758-67045L (Other Grant/Funding Number: SAMHSA/RTI)

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

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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