Actively Recruiting
The Effect of Medical Cannabis on Opioid Use for Individuals with Chronic Pain
Led by Thomas Jefferson University · Updated on 2025-02-14
110
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
35 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
This research aims to observe how medical cannabis affects pain and the use of opioid pain medications in adults with chronic pain who are using prescribed opioids. The study compares individuals who choose to use medical cannabis with those who do not, focusing on changes in pain severity, pain interference, opioid use, and other related factors such as quality of life, mental health, and sleep symptoms. Participants who are certified to use medical cannabis will purchase specific products from a partnering dispensary at a reduced cost. They will be randomly assigned to use one form of medical cannabis (either vaporization or tincture) and will receive three different compositions—predominantly THC, predominantly CBD, or a balanced blend of both—over three months without knowing which composition they are using each month. The other group will continue without using cannabis for the entire study period. All participants will complete baseline surveys and daily and monthly assessments to track opioid use, cannabis use (if applicable), pain severity, pain interference, and other health measures. The study will monitor changes over a 12-week period, evaluating outcomes related to pain, opioid use, quality of life, mental health, sleep quality, and side effects of medical cannabis.
CONDITIONS
Brief Title
Can Medical Cannabis Affect Opioid Use?
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Current diagnosis of chronic, intractable pain
- Use of prescription opioids for longer than 90 days
- Have a smartphone or agree to use one provided
- English fluency
- For medical cannabis group only: Willing to get certified by a physician to use medical cannabis in Pennsylvania or already certified but not using medical cannabis regularly for more than 30 days
- For medical cannabis group only: Willing to accept a temporary restriction on medical cannabis products
- For control group only: Agree to continue not using cannabis for the 3-month study duration
You will not qualify if you...
- Under 18 years old
- Being under conservatorship
- Self-reported pregnant or breastfeeding
- Cannabis Use Disorder
- Active treatment in methadone or buprenorphine program for Opioid Use Disorder
- Diabetic neuropathy or chemotherapy-induced neuropathy alone
- For medical cannabis group only: Cannabis use daily or weekly for more than 30 days
- For control group only: Cannabis use
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Your Study Journey
Duration - 2 to 4 weeks
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.
1 screening and enrollment visit
Duration - Up to 12 weeks
Participants report daily prescription opioid use and pain severity, and complete monthly surveys on pain, sleep, mental health, quality of life, and side effects. Participants in the medical cannabis group purchase and use randomized medical cannabis products monthly for three months.
Daily surveys and monthly surveys for up to 3 months
Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 19107
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
A
Allison Herens, LSW
How is the study designed?
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Masking
N/A
Allocation
N/A
Model
N/A
Primary Purpose
N/A
Number of Arms
2
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