Behavioral Economic Analysis of Demand for Marijuana

Brown University

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 2

Conditions: Marijuana Smoking

Treatments: Drug: Smoked marijuana cigarettes: High THC dose (6% THC)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03518567

#1502001185

Details and patient eligibility

About

This laboratory study will employ a multi-session experimental design to examine the behavioral economic demand for marijuana, by studying effect of marijuana administration (High THC) on demand for marijuana, and marijuana smoking topography. The study will recruit 100 non-treatment seeking marijuana users who smoke marijuana at least twice weekly.

Full description

This laboratory study will employ a multi-session experimental design to examine craving for marijuana, the effect of marijuana administration (High THC) on behavioral economic demand for marijuana, and marijuana smoking topography. The study will recruit 100 non-treatment seeking marijuana users who smoke marijuana at least twice weekly. The relationship between hypothetical and actual demand for marijuana will be examined. We will also investigate relationship between demand for marijuana and indices of marijuana smoking topography. The study will recruit 100 non-treatment seeking marijuana users who smoke marijuana at least twice weekly to obtain a final sample of 85 with complete data (15% of attrition). Participants will be tested at a baseline session and during two experimental sessions (an ad libitum marijuana smoking session and a marijuana smoking topography session). This study will confirm the utility of the hypothetical marijuana purchase task as a reliable and valid tool for assessing behavioral economic marijuana demand.

Enrollment: 133 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 50 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• marijuana use at least 8 times in the past month on average and at least monthly for the past 6 months
• English-speaking
• negative urine toxicology screen for drugs other than marijuana
• non-treatment seeking
• purchase of marijuana at least twice in the past 6 months to confirm familiarity with the construct to be measured

Exclusion criteria

• positive pregnancy test
• nursing
• inability to use contraception during the study
• poor physical health
• positive breath alcohol concentration
• diagnosis of a current affective disorder, psychosis, and panic disorder
• self-report of past serious adverse reaction to marijuana
• current psychotropic drug use
• smoking more than 20 tobacco cigarettes per day
• inability to abstain from marijuana for 15 hours
• body mass index outside 18.5-30 kg/m2 range

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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133 participants in 1 patient group

High THC dose (6% THC)

Experimental group

Description:

Smoked marijuana cigarettes (High THC dose \[6% THC\])

Treatment:

Drug: Smoked marijuana cigarettes: High THC dose (6% THC)