Reducing cannabis use to improve daily functioning
Official title: Prospective changes in patient-reported and objective functioning following reduction of cannabis use
Funded at Medical University of South Carolina · NIH-11408819 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Reducing cannabis use may improve everyday functioning and quality of life for adults with cannabis use disorders.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Medical University of South Carolina NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charleston, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2025 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $692,906 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA062443-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11408819 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with cannabis use or cannabis use disorder who are motivated to reduce use but not necessarily abstinent.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals who do not reduce cannabis use or who have severe comorbidities might not experience the expected benefits.
What this research studies
This project follows adults who use cannabis to see whether cutting back, even without staying abstinent, leads to better daily functioning and cognition. It will track patient-reported outcomes and objective functioning over time as cannabis use decreases in real-world settings. The study uses standardized measures of cannabis use in typical THC units and looks for meaningful improvements in everyday activities, memory, focus, and mood. The findings could help people and clinicians understand the potential benefits of harm-reduction approaches for cannabis use. The research is conducted at the Medical University of South Carolina with a team led by Dr. Rachel Tomko.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients may learn that reducing cannabis use can improve daily functioning and well-being.
How similar studies have gone: Some prior work suggests benefits of harm-reduction approaches, but comprehensive prospective data on cannabis use reduction are limited.
Where this research is happening
-
Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tomko, Rachel Lynn — Medical University of South Carolina
- Study coordinator: Tomko, Rachel Lynn
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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.