Evaluating the Efficacy of Cannabidiol for Reducing Cigarette Use
University of California, Los Angeles
Summary
The goal of this research is to evaluate the efficacy of cannabidiol (CBD) in reducing cigarette smoking. Although there are safe and effective treatments for smoking cessation, not everyone who attempts smoking cessation is successful, even with these treatments. Relapse rates are high, leaving a need for new approaches. Despite justification to evaluate CBD for this indication, human research on the topic is scant. Larger, more extended studies are warranted and essential. The investigators will recruit participants from CRI-Help, Inc., a substance abuse treatment program in North Hollywood, where residents who indicate the desire to stop smoking are prohibited from using other cannabis products which would affect recruitment. The aims of this study are: 1. Evaluate the effects of CBD on nicotine intake. 2. Exploratory Aims. Measure plasma concentrations of CBD, N-arachidonoyl-ethanolamine (anandamide) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) at baseline and day 7. Participants who meet eligibility criteria will take part in a 56-day treatment phase during which they receive the study medication under supervision (CBD or placebo twice daily) and complete questionnaires on side effects, withdrawal, craving and mood symptoms. Blood, breath, and urine tests will also be performed throughout the study. Participants who complete the treatment will also be assessed at 1-month and 3-month follow up visits.
Description
General Experimental Design: This will be a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, comparison study of Nantheia ATL5 (CBD) vs. placebo on smoking behavior in participants who have Tobacco Use Disorder (TUD) and have a desire for smoking cessation, conducted at CRI-Help, Inc., a residential substance use treatment center in N. Hollywood, CA. The investigators will instruct participants and provide support via text messages from the National Cancer Institute's Smokefree.gov website. Smokefree.gov offers free messaging programs that give encouragement, advice, and tips for becoming smoke-f…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18–65 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: The investigators will study equal numbers of males and females betweeen 18 - 65 years of age who have Tobacco Use Disorder and express a desire for smoking cessation. Participants will be recruited from the clientele base at Cri-Help Treatment Center in North Hollywood, CA, where the investigators have a long-standing relationship and where the investigators have conducted other research protocols. This study will be conducted at Cri-Help Treatment Center. Participants will not be recruited from the general population for this study because common use of cannabis in the…
Interventions
- DrugCannabidiol (CBD) 800 mg
CBD (400 mg) will be administered orally twice daily in the morning and again in the evening in 4 capsules each containing 100 mg of the active ingredient in the Ananda investigational new drug, ATL5. ATL5 is cannabidiol (CBD), extracted from hemp, at a 10% strength (softgel capsules with 100 mg/ml of CBD per capsule). The novel formulation is based on the principle that a water-free mixture of some concentrated inactive ingredients (excipients) self-assemble spontaneously into liquid nanodomains that contain the active component CBD. ATL5 Softgel Capsules will be manufactured by Baxco Pharmaceutical Inc., (California, USA) under cGMP conditions.
- DrugPlacebo
The placebo softgel capsule formulation will have a composition with the same relative proportions as the CBD ATL5 Softgel Capsules. This formulation will be manufactured by Baxco Pharmaceutical Inc under cGMP conditions. 4 softgel capsules of placebo will be administered to match the capsule number of the active compound, daily in the morning and evening for each of 56 days.
Location
- CRI-Help, Inc.North Hollywood, California