Transcranial Magnetic Brain Stimulation for Cannabis Use

This study is testing a device called transcranial magnetic brain stimulation (iTBS) to see if it can help heavy cannabis users reduce their cannabis use. Researchers believe that by stimulating a specific area of the brain (the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex), they might be able to reduce how much attention people pay to cannabis-related cues, which could help them cut back on use. The study is looking for 50 participants between 18 and 65 years old who are current cannabis users. To see if the treatment works, researchers will track how often and how much cannabis participants use over several weeks. The current status of this study is unclear.

Study design
This interventional study plans to enroll 50 participants. It uses both active and sham (inactive) iTBS, meaning some participants will receive the real treatment and others a placebo-like treatment.
What's involved
Participants will undergo a two-week pre-treatment phase, a two-week treatment phase, and a four-week post-treatment phase, totaling eight weeks of observation.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Participants will be followed for four weeks after the treatment phase to assess their cannabis use.

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NCT05401929

Transcranial Magnetic Brain Stimulation to Reduce Cannabis Use in Heavy Cannabis Users

Recruiting
NAAges 18–65InterventionalTreatment
Duke University
~50 participants
Updated 2026-07-13 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:iTBS

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Frequency of cannabis use
Measured over Two-week Pre-treatment/Baseline phase (Days 1-14), Two-week Treatment phase (Days 15-28), Four-week Post-treatment phase (Days 29-56)
+1 more outcome measured
Cannabis
1 sites across 1 states
North Carolina1
  • Tonisha Kearney-Ramos, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Duke University

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Males/non-pregnant females, 18-65 years old
Current cannabis user
Able to perform all study procedures

Exclusion

Regular use of other illicit drugs
If medical history, physical and psychiatric examination, or laboratory tests performed during the screening process reveal any significant illness that the study physician deems contraindicated for study participation
  • Frequency of cannabis useTwo-week Pre-treatment/Baseline phase (Days 1-14), Two-week Treatment phase (Days 15-28), Four-week Post-treatment phase (Days 29-56)

    On each study day, participants will receive EMA text surveys on their cellphones. For each participant, cannabis use frequency will be measured as the number of days per week they report cannabis use. During the two-week pre-treatment period, we will calculate the baseline frequency as the average number of use days per week across those two weeks. Cannabis use frequency will then be assessed during each of the two treatment weeks (Week 0-1) and during the four-week follow-up period (Weeks 2-5), and the follow-up period will subsequently be compared relative to baseline. This is corroborated by TLFB.

  • Quantity of cannabis useTwo-week Pre-treatment/Baseline phase (Days 1-14), Two-week Treatment phase (Days 15-28), Four-week Post-treatment phase (Days 29-56)

    On each study day, participants will receive EMA text surveys on their cellphones. For each participant, cannabis use quantity will be measured as the average number of grams used per use-day during each week in which they report cannabis use. During the two-week pre-treatment/baseline period (Days 1-14), we will calculate the baseline quantity as the average daily grams used per use-day across those two weeks. Cannabis use quantity will then be assessed during the treatment phase (Days 15-28) and during the 4-week follow-up period (Days 29-56), and the follow-up period will subsequently be compared relative to baseline. This will be corroborated by TLFB.