Study of Cannabis Effects on Thinking and the Endocannabinoid System in Adults With and Without HIV

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying how co-existing conditions like substance use affect decision-making and cognitive behaviors in people with HIV PWH. The study focuses on the effects of cannabis, which is commonly used by PWH for symptoms like nausea, appetite loss, pain, and mood. The trial will explore how cannabis affects risky decision-making, response control, reward learning, time perception, motivation, and brain chemical levels in both HIV-positive and HIV-negative adults. Participants who use cannabis infrequently will first complete baseline cognitive tests and biomarker assessments, including measuring antiretroviral therapy use. They will then be randomly assigned to receive one of three treatments for five days oral THC 10 mg, oral cannabidiol CBD, 600 mg, or a placebo. Follow-up testing and biomarker reassessment will occur after the treatment period. During the study, participants will undergo various cognitive and behavioral tests such as the Iowa Gambling Task, Temporal Bisection Task, and Continuous Performance Task, among others. Biomarker levels in cerebrospinal fluid will also be measured before and after treatment. The main outcomes include changes in cognitive task scores and brain chemical quantities from baseline to five days after starting the study drug. The study is sponsored by the University of California, San Diego, and includes adults aged 18 to 65 years.

Cannabis Use, Cognition, and the Endocannabinoid System in HIV