Understanding Why Cannabis Triggers Craving in the Brain
Official title: Investigating the Neurobiological Substrates of Cannabis-Seeking Behavior
Funded at Washington State University · NIH-11390217 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant funds research to understand how cannabis and its active ingredient THC may cause people to seek more cannabis by studying brain circuits and brain chemicals in models that resemble human cannabis use.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pullman, United States) |
| Project start | July 15, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $420,750 |
| NIH project number | 1R21DA063816-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11390217 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with cannabis use patterns or those with a history of cannabis use who may benefit from future targeted interventions.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals with no cannabis use history or those outside the study’s modeled conditions may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will study how cannabis- related signals in brain circuits, including the prefrontal cortex and nucleus accumbens, influence cannabis-seeking behavior using preclinical models that mimic human use. The project will examine how dopamine and other brain chemicals change when cannabis cues are present or when cannabis is not available. By using models that deliver vaporized cannabis extracts, the study aims to map which brain pathways drive craving and how extinction learning might help reduce it. The work is focused on translating findings from animals to a better understanding of cannabis use in people.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify brain targets for therapies to reduce cannabis craving and help inform prevention and treatment strategies.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research has linked corticostriatal circuits to drug-seeking behavior, with some translational evidence supporting similar brain mechanisms in cannabis use.
Where this research is happening
-
Washington State University
Pullman, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mclaughlin, Ryan Joseph — Washington State University
- Study coordinator: Mclaughlin, Ryan Joseph
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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.