How marijuana affects withdrawal, safety, and drug‑liking in people with opioid use disorder
Official title: Cannabis Modulation of Outcomes Related to Opioid Use Disorder: Opioid Withdrawal, Opioid Abuse Potential and Opioid Safety
Funded at University of Kentucky · NIH-11019678 · Data updated 2026-11-12
People with opioid use disorder will receive different doses of cannabis or a placebo so researchers can learn how marijuana changes withdrawal symptoms, drug liking, and safety measures.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Kentucky NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lexington, United States) |
| Project start | April 15, 2022 |
| Project end | February 28, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $677,778 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA054347-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11019678 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with moderate‑to‑severe opioid use disorder who are physically dependent, have limited recent cannabis use, and can complete inpatient research visits are ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People who are not physically dependent on opioids, who use cannabis regularly, who are pregnant, or who have medical or psychiatric conditions that prevent safe inpatient participation are unlikely to benefit or be eligible.
What this research studies
You would stay as an inpatient and, under double‑blind conditions, receive several acute doses of cannabis (a range of THC doses and THC/CBD combinations) and matching placebo across separate sessions. The project also includes a repeated‑dosing phase to observe short‑term effects of multiple cannabis exposures. Staff will record your withdrawal symptoms, subjective ratings like feeling 'high' and drug liking, and physiological safety measures such as vital signs. Only adults with moderate‑to‑severe opioid use disorder who are physically dependent and who have limited cannabis use in the past month would be enrolled.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the results could clarify whether cannabis reduces opioid withdrawal, alters abuse risk, or affects physiological safety and help guide safer care decisions.
How similar studies have gone: There are very few controlled inpatient studies testing cannabis in people with opioid use disorder, so this approach is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Kentucky
Lexington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Babalonis, Shanna — University of Kentucky
- Study coordinator: Babalonis, Shanna
Related research
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.