This project seeks to learn more about the effects of cannabis use on the endocannabinoid system and endogenous opioid systems in adolescents to address a fundamental gap in knowledge and identify biomarkers that may help distinguish youth who relapse from youth who remain sober.
Learning the effects of cannabis use on the endocannabinoid system and endogenous opioid systems in adolescents addresses a fundamental gap in knowledge and may identify biomarkers that help distinguish youth who relapse from youth who remain sober. The specific aims of the project are to: 1. Measure endocannabinoid (eCB) and endogenous opioid (endorphin) levels in the blood of adolescents who use cannabis regularly and adolescents who never use cannabis. We expect eCB and endorphin levels to differ significantly in adolescents who use cannabis regularly compared to adolescents who do not. 2. Characterize circulating eCB and endorphin levels at baseline, during abstinence, and after natural resumption of cannabis use. 3. Collect data to evaluate cannabis craving and to test for association of craving with eCB and endorphin levels in adolescents who use cannabis regularly. We expect that larger changes in eCB and endorphin levels will be associated with higher craving scores.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
30
Participants will be paid for abstinence at each study visit.
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
Aurora, Colorado, United States
RECRUITINGCannabinoid levels in blood
Cannabinoid levels in blood: Our primary measure will be 11-nor-carboxy-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THCCOOH) concentrations in whole blood, which have been demonstrated to be a reliable quantitative measure of cannabis use over the past few weeks35. We will measure an additional 10 cannabinoids \[THC, 11-hydroxy-THC, THC-glucuronide, cannabidiol (CBD), cannabinol (CBN), cannabigerol (CBG), cannabichromene (CBC), cannabidivarin (CBDV), tetrahydro-cannabivarin (THCV), and THCV-COOH\]34, which will be visually inspected to identify potential secondary outcomes.
Time frame: Collected at Baseline
Cannabinoid levels in blood
Cannabinoid levels in blood: Our primary measure will be 11-nor-carboxy-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THCCOOH) concentrations in whole blood, which have been demonstrated to be a reliable quantitative measure of cannabis use over the past few weeks35. We will measure an additional 10 cannabinoids \[THC, 11-hydroxy-THC, THC-glucuronide, cannabidiol (CBD), cannabinol (CBN), cannabigerol (CBG), cannabichromene (CBC), cannabidivarin (CBDV), tetrahydro-cannabivarin (THCV), and THCV-COOH\]34, which will be visually inspected to identify potential secondary outcomes.
Time frame: Collected at Week 2
Cannabinoid levels in blood
Cannabinoid levels in blood: Our primary measure will be 11-nor-carboxy-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THCCOOH) concentrations in whole blood, which have been demonstrated to be a reliable quantitative measure of cannabis use over the past few weeks35. We will measure an additional 10 cannabinoids \[THC, 11-hydroxy-THC, THC-glucuronide, cannabidiol (CBD), cannabinol (CBN), cannabigerol (CBG), cannabichromene (CBC), cannabidivarin (CBDV), tetrahydro-cannabivarin (THCV), and THCV-COOH\]34, which will be visually inspected to identify potential secondary outcomes.
Time frame: Collected at Week 4
Cannabinoid levels in blood
Cannabinoid levels in blood: Our primary measure will be 11-nor-carboxy-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THCCOOH) concentrations in whole blood, which have been demonstrated to be a reliable quantitative measure of cannabis use over the past few weeks35. We will measure an additional 10 cannabinoids \[THC, 11-hydroxy-THC, THC-glucuronide, cannabidiol (CBD), cannabinol (CBN), cannabigerol (CBG), cannabichromene (CBC), cannabidivarin (CBDV), tetrahydro-cannabivarin (THCV), and THCV-COOH\]34, which will be visually inspected to identify potential secondary outcomes.
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Time frame: Collected at Week 8
Endocannabinoid levels in blood
We will measure endocannabinoid (eCB) levels AEA and 2-AG, the primary eCBs, in whole blood.
Time frame: Collected at Baseline
Endocannabinoid levels in blood
We will measure endocannabinoid (eCB) levels AEA and 2-AG, the primary eCBs, in whole blood.
Time frame: Collected at Week 2
Endocannabinoid levels in blood
We will measure endocannabinoid (eCB) levels AEA and 2-AG, the primary eCBs, in whole blood.
Time frame: Collected at Week 4
Endocannabinoid levels in blood
We will measure endocannabinoid (eCB) levels AEA and 2-AG, the primary eCBs, in whole blood.
Time frame: Collected at Week 8
Endorphin levels in blood
Endorphin levels in blood: Circulating beta Endorphin (b-EP) levels will be quantified using a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit.
Time frame: Collected at Baseline
Endorphin levels in blood
Endorphin levels in blood: Circulating beta Endorphin (b-EP) levels will be quantified using a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit.
Time frame: Collected at Week 2
Endorphin levels in blood
Endorphin levels in blood: Circulating beta Endorphin (b-EP) levels will be quantified using a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit.
Time frame: Collected at Week 4
Endorphin levels in blood
Endorphin levels in blood: Circulating beta Endorphin (b-EP) levels will be quantified using a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit.
Time frame: Collected at Week 8
Cannabis Craving
Cannabis craving: The Marijuana Craving Questionnaire (MCQ) will be used to assess cannabis craving.
Time frame: Collected at Baseline
Cannabis Craving
Cannabis craving: The Marijuana Craving Questionnaire (MCQ) will be used to assess cannabis craving.
Time frame: Collected at Week 2
Cannabis Craving
Cannabis craving: The Marijuana Craving Questionnaire (MCQ) will be used to assess cannabis craving.
Time frame: Collected at Week 4
Cannabis Craving
Cannabis craving: The Marijuana Craving Questionnaire (MCQ) will be used to assess cannabis craving.
Time frame: Collected at Week 8