Behavioral Economic Analysis of Demand for Marijuana

Phase 2

Completed

Brief Summary: 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.

Detailed 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.

Recruitment & Eligibility

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

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Validity of the Marijuana Purchase Task (MPT)	Duration of the experimental session (i.e., 60 minutes)	The Marijuana Purchase Task will be used to collect data on marijuana demand. Participants indicate how much marijuana they would purchase at varying levels of price (e.g., free - $60). Indices of marijuana demand are derived from the task and used to determine the relative value of marijuana for each participant. Hits purchased on the MPT will correspond with actual number of hits purchased and smoked in the laboratory. Primary outcome is percentage of participants who purchased and smoked exactly what they said they would.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in Marijuana Craving Questionnaire (MCQ)	The MCQ will be administered pre- and post- marijuana smoking during the experimental session, up to 6 hours	Subjective marijuana craving was assessed via a 10-item Marijuana Craving Questionnaire. Participants were asked to respond to items according to how they were thinking or feeling "right now," and MCQ items were rated on a 1 = "strongly disagree" to 7 = "strongly agree" scale, with higher scores indicating greater subjective marijuana craving, and summed to yield a total craving score. Total craving score was used in analyses.
Marijuana Smoking Topography	Marijuana smoking topography indices will be collected during the 1-hour ad libitum marijuana smoking topography experimental session.	Indices of Marijuana Smoking Topography will be obtained during the experimental session. Participants will smoke marijuana through a smoking topography device. The outcome measure is number of puffs.