Cannabidiol Pharmacotherapy for Adults With Cannabis Use Disorder

Phase 1

Completed

Brief Summary: Investigators aim to determine Epidiolex's promise as a pharmacotherapy for cannabis use disorder. Investigators hypothesize that Epidiolex, when added to medical management, will result in greater reductions in marijuana use compared to placebo as measured by the 2 primary outcome measures: 1) quantitative THC levels and 2) self-report by Timeline Follow Back. Secondary outcome measures will include treatment retention, patient satisfaction, cannabis withdrawal, cannabis craving, depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, , compliance, and cigarette use.

Detailed Description: Investigators will conduct a Stage 1 pilot feasibility study at McLean Hospital to begin to evaluate Epidiolex as a pharmacotherapy for adults with cannabis use disorder. In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, cannabis-dependent subjects ages 18-65 will receive medical management over a 6-week period, with half receiving Epidiolex treatment and half receiving placebo. Participants will receive either up to 800 mg Epidiolex or placebo over a 6-week treatment period. Following treatment completion, participants will have a follow-up visits at 10 and 14 weeks. Primary outcomes will include self-report of cannabis smoking and results of quantitative urine drug screens for cannabis. Secondary outcome measures will include treatment retention, patient satisfaction, cannabis withdrawal, cannabis craving, depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, compliance, and cigarette use.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria

Age range 18-65 years
DSM 5 diagnosis of cannabis use disorder, based on the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM 5 (SCID-5)
Express a desire to quit cannabis use within the next 30 days
Have used cannabis on ≥4 days within the past 30 days (i.e., an average of ≥1 day per week)
For women of childbearing age, a negative pregnancy test at screening with agreement to use adequate contraception to prevent pregnancy and monthly pregnancy tests; for men, contraception will be discussed at the beginning of the study with the study physician
Consent for us to communicate with their prescribing clinician
Furnish the names of 2 locators, who would assist study staff in locating them during the study period
Live close enough to McLean Hospital to attend study visits
Plan to stay in the Boston area for the next 3 months
Are willing and able to sign informed consent

Exclusion Criteria

Current diagnosis of other drug or alcohol dependence (excluding nicotine)
Recent (within 3 months) significant cardiac disease
Current serious psychiatric illness or history of psychosis, schizophrenia, bipolar type I disorder
Current medical condition (including significant laboratory abnormalities, such as abnormal liver function tests) that could prevent regular study attendance
Mental retardation or organic mental disorder
Acutely dangerous or suicidal behavior
Currently in a residential treatment setting in which substance use is monitored and restricted, since the restricted access to drugs could represent an important confounding variable
Pregnant, nursing, or, if a woman of childbearing potential, not using a form of birth control judged by the investigator to be effective
Concomitant daily treatment with opioid analgesics, sedative hypnotics, or other known CNS depressants
Known hypersensitivity to cannabinoids or sesame oil
Disease of the gastrointestinal system, liver, or kidneys that may impede metabolism or excretion of CBD
Inability to read or write in English
History of seizures, head trauma or other history of CNS insult that could predispose the subject to seizures
Currently taking valproic acid, lamotrigine, or propranolol, medication metabolized by UGT1A9 or UGT2B7 enzymes (CBD may affect these UGT levels)

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Placebo	Placebo	Placebo
Cannabidiol	Cannabidiol	Epidiolex

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Self-report Instruments to Measure Cannabis Use	During Week 6	Self-reported cannabis inhalations per day during Week 6 as reported by Timeline Followback

Secondary Outcome Measures