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

156 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

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 the drug Cannabis effective for improving memory?

There is some evidence that CBD, a component of cannabis, may help with cognitive functions like memory, especially when combined with THC, as it seems to counteract some of THC's memory-impairing effects. However, more research is needed to confirm these findings and determine the effectiveness of cannabis for memory improvement. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is cannabis safe for human use?

Cannabis, particularly its component THC, can cause short-term effects like feeling 'high', memory problems, and mood changes. Long-term heavy use may lead to memory issues, especially in adolescents. CBD, another component, is generally considered safer and may even counteract some of THC's effects, but more research is needed to fully understand its safety. ^{2 4 6 7 8}

How does the drug cannabis differ from other treatments for memory effects?

Cannabis, particularly its components THC and CBD, is unique because THC can impair memory while CBD may counteract these effects, potentially offering a balanced approach to memory issues. Unlike other treatments, cannabis involves a complex interaction of compounds that can have varying effects on memory depending on their ratio and dosage. ^{3 4 9 10 11}

What is the purpose of this trial?

This study will examine the acute effects of cannabis on various aspects of memory. Eligible participants will complete a drug screen. Participants who pass the drug screen will be asked to wear an Empatica E4 wristband for the duration of the study. Participants will provide a saliva sample from which cortisol will be extracted. They will then complete baseline measures of cannabis consumption patterns, level of intoxication, mood, anxiety, stress, and verbal intelligence. Next, participants will be randomly assigned to inhale vapor from cannabis containing 20mg THC, 40mg THC, or placebo; both cannabis and placebo will be obtained from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Participants will then will complete a battery of memory tests including tests of prospective, verbal, visuospatial, source, verbal working, visuospatial working, false, and temporal order memory. Memory tests will be completed across two blocks in a counterbalanced order. Saliva samples will be obtained two additional times after drug/placebo administration. Ratings of intoxication, mood, anxiety, and stress will be obtained three additional times after drug/placebo administration. The investigators hypothesize that participants who are randomly assigned to inhale cannabis vapor will perform worse on all memory tests than participants who inhale the placebo.

Research Team

Ryan McLaughlin, PhD

Principal Investigator

Washington State University

Carrie Cuttler

Principal Investigator

Washington State University

Eligibility Criteria

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

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

Treatment Details

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.

Participant Groups

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+

Findings from Research

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]

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 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]

References

1. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Prospects for the Use of Cannabinoids in Psychiatric Disorders. [2021]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol on nocturnal sleep and early-morning behavior in young adults. [2019]

3. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Scopolamine and MK801-induced working memory deficits in rats are not reversed by CBD-rich cannabis extracts. [2018]

4. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Acute effects of naturalistic THC vs. CBD use on recognition memory: a preliminary study. [2021]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Use of cannabidiol (CBD) for the treatment of cognitive impairment in psychiatric and neurological illness: A narrative review. [2023]

6. Japan pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Central Effect of Components of Cannabis: Utility and Risk]. [2020]

7. Germany pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Verbal learning and memory in adolescent cannabis users, alcohol users and non-users. [2021]

8. Germany pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Efficacy and safety of medicinal cannabis: results of the CaPRis study]. [2019]

9. Ireland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Diminished gray matter in the hippocampus of cannabis users: possible protective effects of cannabidiol. [2022]

10. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Cannabidiol enhances verbal episodic memory in healthy young participants: A randomized clinical trial. [2021]

11. New Zealand pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effect of cannabis use on memory function: an update. [2022]