This study will examine how discounted vouchers for medical cannabis use affects opioid analgesic use in adults with chronic pain. Our study findings will have critically important implications to shape clinical care and medical cannabis policies.
This study will examine how discounted vouchers for medical cannabis use affects opioid analgesic use in adults with chronic pain. ReLeaf-V is a 4-arm blinded randomized controlled trial (RCT) of 352 adults with (a) severe or chronic neuropathic or joint pain, (b) opioid analgesic use, and (c) active certification for medical cannabis. We will randomize participants to a discounted voucher for: 1) a placebo soft-gel capsule product, 2) high THC:low CBD soft-gel capsule product (4.3mg THC/0.7mg CBD), 3) equal THC:CBD soft-gel capsule product (2.5mg THC/2.5mg CBD), or 4) low THC:high CBD soft-gel capsule product (0.2mg THC/4.8mg CBD). Over 14 weeks, participants will have 5 research visits in which data will be collected from questionnaires, and medical and Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) records. The primary independent variable will be randomization arm, and the primary outcome will be cumulative opioid analgesic dose.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
270
We will randomize participants to one of the following four conditions for discounted vouchers: 1) a discounted voucher for a placebo soft-gel capsule product, 2) a discounted voucher for a high THC:low CBD soft-gel capsule product, 3) a discounted voucher for an equal THC:CBD soft-gel capsule product, or 4) a discounted voucher for a low THC:high CBD soft-gel capsule product. We will stratify randomization by history of cannabis use (no use in the past year, used in the past year and not near-daily or daily (used in the past year and \<20 days out of the last 30 days), near-daily or daily (\>= 20 days out of the last 30 days) baseline opioid analgesic prescription (chronic opioid treatment vs. not chronic opioid use), and primary pain condition (neuropathy, not neuropathy). Chronic opioid treatment is defined as prescribed opioids ≥90 non-overlapping days in the past 182 days. Randomization will occur in blocks to ensure equal randomization over time.
Vireo Health of New York
Queens, New York, United States
Opioid analgesic use
The primary outcome will be cumulative opioid analgesic dose.
Time frame: Opioid analgesic use will be weekly cumulative dose of opioid analgesics over 14 weeks.
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