How marijuana and tobacco taken together affect the body

Understanding the clinical pharmacology of marijuana-tobacco co-administration

NIH-funded research University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11306606

This project will learn how different amounts of THC and nicotine delivered by vapor change drug levels and heart and blood responses in people who use both substances.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of California, San Francisco NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (San Francisco, United States)
Project IDNIH-11306606 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

If you join, researchers will use a loose-leaf vaporizer to give controlled doses of marijuana (THC) and tobacco (nicotine) in different combinations. They will take blood samples and measure things like THC and nicotine levels, carbon monoxide, catecholamines, heart rate, and blood pressure over time. Visits will include monitored inhalation sessions with safety checks and repeated measurements to map how the two drugs interact in the body. The study aims to build a detailed picture of the timing and size of drug effects when marijuana and tobacco are used together.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal participants are adults who currently use both marijuana and tobacco and can attend multiple monitored clinic visits.

Not a fit: People who do not use either substance, are minors, pregnant, or have serious cardiovascular disease are unlikely to benefit or be eligible.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: Results could help people and clinicians understand health risks of using marijuana and tobacco together and guide safer counseling or treatments.

How similar studies have performed: Previous work has described THC-only or nicotine-only effects, but systematic dose-controlled co-administration is largely novel.

Where this research is happening

San Francisco, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.