Age-dependent Effects of Smoked and Oral Delta-9-THC
University of California, Los Angeles · with National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) · NCT05865470
Opens the official ClinicalTrials.gov record, with the study team’s contacts. Bored Studies doesn’t enroll anyone.
Key facts
- Compensation
- Not posted. Ask the study team before screening.
- Who can join
- Ages 18–65 · All sexes
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Study type
- Interventional · Phase 1
- Target enrollment
- 103
- US sites recruiting
- 1
- Study start
- April 30, 2025
- Record last updated
- January 7, 2026
Status re-checked against ClinicalTrials.gov within the last 12 hours.
What the study is about
This study will assess the age-dependent effects of smoked and oral THC on abuse liability, intoxication, analgesia and impairment as a function of age.
Being studied: Cannabis; Dronabinol; Smoked Placebo; Oral Placebo
Conditions: Pain; Abuse, Drug; Intoxication; Cannabinoids
Eligibility criteria
Copied from the official record. The study team makes the final decision at screening.
Show full criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- Male or non-pregnant female aged 18-65 years according to the below criteria: EMERGING ADULTS: 18-25 years of age (+/- one year) MIDDLE-AGED ADULTS: 35-45 years of age (+/- one year) LATE MIDDLE-AGED ADULTS: 55-65 years of age (+/- one year)
- Report weekly-monthly use of cannabis (with primary mode of use via inhalation) over the past 6 months prior to screening
- Not currently seeking treatment for their cannabis use
- No reported clinically significant adverse effects with cannabis use
- Have a Body Mass Index from 18.5 - 34kg/m2
- Able to perform all study procedures
- FEMALES: Currently practicing an effective form of birth control if pre-menopausal
Exclusion Criteria
- Meeting DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5) criteria for any substance use disorder other than nicotine and mild cannabis use disorder
- Report using other illicit drugs in the prior 4 weeks
- Evidence of severe psychiatric illness (e.g. mood disorder with functional impairment or suicide risk, schizophrenia) or medical condition (i.e., hypertension) judged by the study physician (and PI to put the participant at greater risk of experiencing adverse events due to completion of study procedures, interfere with their ability to participate in the study, or their capacity to provide informed consent.
- Current predominant licit use of medical cannabis
- Current use of prescription or regular use of over the counter medications (with the exception of hormonal contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy). Current use of herbal supplements that may affect study outcomes or interact with study drug (i.e., St Johns wort, kava, L-tryptophan, melatonin)
- If medical history, physical and psychiatric examination, or laboratory tests performed during the screening process are not within the normal range and / or reveal any significant illness (e.g., hypertension) as judged by the study physician and to put the participant at greater risk of experiencing adverse events due to completion of study procedures
- Current pain
- Pregnancy is exclusionary due to the possible effects of the study medication on fetal development
- History of an allergic reaction or adverse reaction to cannabis is exclusionary.
- Currently enrolled in another research protocol
- Not using a contraceptive method (hormonal or barrier methods)
- The evaluating physician reviews all medical assessments along with medical history. Any disorders that might make cannabis administration hazardous are exclusionary.
- Intolerance to lactose and sesame (ingredients in the oral THC preparation)
- Insensitivity to the Cold Pressor Test
Recruiting US locations
UCLA Center for Cannabis and Cannabinoids
Los Angeles, CA 90095
Site contact: Ziva D Cooper, PhD · (310) 794 -1497 · cannabislab@mednet.ucla.edu
Study contacts (from the official record)
- Ziva D Cooper, PhD · 310-983-3417 · zcooper@mednet.ucla.edu
- Vincent Acebo · 310-983-3417 · vacebo@mednet.ucla.edu
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