Cannabis for Memory Effects

Overseen By Ryan McLaughlin, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Phase 2

Sponsor: Washington State University

Disqualifiers: Psychiatric, Neurological, Chronic, Pregnancy, others

Prior Safety Data This treatment has passed at least one previous human trial

Approved in 4 Jurisdictions This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 3

Duration: 1 day

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores how cannabis affects memory. Researchers aim to determine if inhaling cannabis vapor alters memory performance compared to a placebo. Participants will use either cannabis with 20mg THC, 40mg THC, or a non-cannabis placebo, followed by various memory tests. The trial suits individuals who have used cannabis at least weekly for a year and can abstain on the test day. As a Phase 2 trial, this research measures the treatment's effectiveness in an initial, smaller group, allowing participants to contribute to important findings.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. However, if you have a serious psychiatric condition, neurological disorder, or chronic medical condition, you may not be eligible to participate.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

Research has shown that cannabis can affect memory and thinking skills. Some studies indicate that cannabis use, especially with THC, might impact brain areas related to memory, learning, and decision-making. For instance, it might temporarily make learning and remembering new words more difficult.

Regarding safety, past studies have examined cannabis's effects on the brain. These studies suggest that while short-term use can affect thinking, the effects are usually mild. However, regular and heavy cannabis use, especially among young people, might lead to more noticeable memory problems.

In this study, participants will inhale cannabis vapor containing either 20mg or 40mg of THC, which might temporarily affect their performance on memory tests. These doses are part of the research to better understand cannabis's short-term effects on memory. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial's treatments?

Researchers are excited about using cannabis for memory effects because it explores a unique approach with THC as the active ingredient. Unlike standard treatments that might include medications like cholinesterase inhibitors or memantine, which primarily target neurotransmitter activity, cannabis acts on the body's endocannabinoid system. This new mechanism of action could offer alternative ways to enhance memory function. Additionally, the treatment involves inhaling vapor, which could provide faster onset and more convenient dosing compared to traditional oral medications.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for memory effects?

Research shows that cannabis, particularly its main active ingredient THC, affects memory. Studies have found that cannabis use often leads to memory problems, especially with short-term memory and attention. In this trial, participants will receive either 20mg THC, 40mg THC, or a placebo to evaluate these effects. Although some studies suggest improvements in certain thinking skills, results remain inconsistent. Regular cannabis use has been linked to difficulties with attention and memory, though experiences vary among individuals. Overall, evidence suggests that cannabis impairs memory, particularly short-term recall and focus. ^{3 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Carrie Cuttler

Principal Investigator

Washington State University

Ryan McLaughlin, PhD

Principal Investigator

Washington State University

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for individuals who have used cannabis at least once a week for over a year and are willing to abstain from using it on the day of testing. Participants will be screened for drug use, wear an Empatica E4 wristband, and provide saliva samples.

Inclusion Criteria

You agree not to use any cannabis for at least 8 hours before the testing session.

You have used cannabis once a week for a year or more.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Baseline Assessment

Participants complete baseline measures of cannabis consumption patterns, level of intoxication, mood, anxiety, stress, and verbal intelligence

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Treatment

Participants are randomly assigned to inhale vapor from cannabis containing 20mg THC, 40mg THC, or placebo and complete a battery of memory tests

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Post-Treatment Monitoring

Participants are monitored for intoxication and engage in leisure activities until they report feeling sober

4 hours

Continuous monitoring

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

1 day

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Cannabis
• Placebo

Trial Overview The study tests how different amounts of THC in cannabis (20mg or 40mg) versus placebo affect memory functions. Participants will undergo various memory tests after inhaling vaporized cannabis or placebo provided by NIDA.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: 40mg THC Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants will inhale vapor from .34 grams of cannabis containing 11.86% THC (40mg THC total).

Group II: 20mg THC Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants will inhale vapor from .17 grams of cannabis containing 11.86% THC (20mg THC total).

Group III: Placebo Placebo Group 1 Intervention

Participants will inhale vapor from a placebo product.

Cannabis is already approved in Canada, United States, European Union for the following indications:

Approved in Canada as Cannabis for:

• Chronic pain
• Nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy
• Spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis

Approved in United States as Cannabis for:

• Seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome
• Nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy

Approved in European Union as Cannabis for:

• Spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis
• Chronic pain

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Washington State University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

114

Recruited

58,800+

Published Research Related to This Trial

In a study involving 8 healthy volunteers, 15 mg of THC alone did not affect nocturnal sleep, but when combined with CBD, it decreased deep sleep (stage 3) and increased wakefulness, indicating a complex interaction between THC and CBD on sleep quality.

The study found that 15 mg of THC impaired memory and increased sleepiness the following day, while lower doses of THC combined with CBD improved reaction time on memory tasks, suggesting that CBD may counteract some of the sedative effects of THC.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol on nocturnal sleep and early-morning behavior in young adults. Nicholson, AN., Turner, C., Stone, BM., et al.[2019]

In a study involving 32 regular cannabis users, higher levels of THC in the blood were linked to decreased memory accuracy after cannabis use, indicating that THC can impair memory function in a dose-dependent manner.

Conversely, strains containing both THC and CBD did not show memory impairment, suggesting that CBD may counteract the negative effects of THC on memory.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Acute effects of naturalistic THC vs. CBD use on recognition memory: a preliminary study. Curran, T., Devillez, H., YorkWilliams, SL., et al.[2021]

The endocannabinoid system plays a significant role in mood, stress, and cognitive functions, with cannabinoids like THC and CBD showing potential therapeutic effects in psychiatric conditions, although their effects can vary based on individual factors and dosages.

While some studies suggest cannabinoids may help reduce anxiety and depression symptoms in certain medical conditions, caution is advised, especially with THC, due to its potential to increase the risk of psychosis, particularly in younger individuals.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Prospects for the Use of Cannabinoids in Psychiatric Disorders. Graczyk, M., Łukowicz, M., Dzierzanowski, T.[2021]

The analysis of 16 systematic reviews and 9 additional randomized-controlled trials found that medicinal cannabis can effectively help manage chronic pain and spasticity in multiple sclerosis patients, as well as stimulate appetite and improve nausea in cancer and HIV/AIDS patients, although the benefits are often small.

While there are reported adverse effects associated with cannabis medicine, severe adverse effects are rare, highlighting the need for more extensive and methodologically sound studies to establish reliable treatment guidelines.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Efficacy and safety of medicinal cannabis: results of the CaPRis study]. Hoch, E., Friemel, C., Schneider, M., et al.[2019]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7027431/

Cannabis effects on brain structure, function, and cognition Contrary to these findings, recent studies have shown that THC can promote neurogenesis, restore memory and prevent neurodegenerative processes and cognitive ...

2. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04855526?cond=%22Marijuana%20Use%22&aggFilters=status:not%20rec&rank=3

NCT04855526 | THC + CBD and Memory Study Memory deficits are one of the most consistently observed cognitive effects of marijuana use. There is evidence that some decrements attributable to the ...

3. systematicreviewsjournal.biomedcentral.com systematicreviewsjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13643-022-02073-5

The effect of medical cannabis on cognitive functions Unfortunately, cognitive disturbances are often reported as adverse events, although conversely, cognitive improvements have been reported.

4. jamanetwork.com jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2823671

Year-Long Cannabis Use for Medical Symptoms and Brain ... Adults using cannabis for medical symptoms over 1 year may not experience significant changes within reward, working memory, or inhibitory control domains.

5. ccsa.ca ccsa.ca/sites/default/files/2019-04/CCSA-Cannabis-Use-Cognitive-Effects-Report-2019-en.pdf

Regular Use and Cognitive Functioning The acute effects of cannabis include euphoria and relaxation, changes in perception, time distortion, deficits in attention span and memory, body tremors, ...

6. cdc.gov cdc.gov/cannabis/health-effects/index.html

Cannabis Health Effects Cannabis use directly affects brain function—specifically the parts of the brain responsible for memory, learning, attention, decision making, ...

7. movementdisorders.onlinelibrary.wiley.com movementdisorders.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/mds.29447

Cognitive Safety Data from a Randomized, Double‐Blind ... Data suggest this CBD/THC drug has a small detrimental effect on cognition following acute/short-term use in PD.

8. nida.nih.gov nida.nih.gov/research-topics/cannabis-marijuana

Cannabis (Marijuana) | National Institute on Drug Abuse Studies show that regular, heavy cannabis use in adolescence is associated with negative effects on working memory, processing speed,83 verbal ...

9. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352250X20301135

The short-term and long-term effects of cannabis on cognition Sufficient evidence that THC/cannabis impairs (non)-verbal learning and episodic memory. Limited evidence for impairment of other types of ...