SCORE Emerging Adult Cannabis Use & Stress Study

This study is looking at how cannabidiol (CBD) oral solution might help young adults (ages 18-25) who have cannabis use disorder (CUD) and experience stress. Researchers want to understand if CBD can reduce cannabis withdrawal symptoms and how people react to stress. You would receive either an 800 mg dose of cannabidiol oral solution or a placebo (an inactive substance) once. The study aims to enroll 148 participants and is trying to understand differences between sexes in how cannabis use and stress are connected. Success would mean seeing a reduction in cannabis withdrawal symptoms and stress reactivity, and a longer time before someone starts using cannabis again after the study session. The current recruitment status is unclear.

Study design: This is an interventional study with 148 planned participants. It is a double-blind study, meaning neither you nor the study staff will know if you are receiving cannabidiol or a placebo.
What's involved: You would need to be able to understand and complete all assessment instruments. You would also need to meet criteria for cannabis use disorder and report using cannabis at least five times weekly over the past month.
Compensation: Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up: Researchers will measure cannabis withdrawal symptoms after a 3-day cannabis abstinence period. They will also track the time until you resume cannabis use, for a maximum of 10 days after the laboratory session.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

SCORE Emerging Adult Cannabis Use & Stress

Recruiting

PHASE1Ages 18–25InterventionalTreatment

Medical University of South Carolina

~148 participants

Updated 2025-11-05 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What's tested:Cannabidiol oral solutionPlacebo

At a glance

Recruiting sites

1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now

RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open

What they're measuring

Cannabis withdrawal symptoms

Measured over Assessed after 3-day cannabis abstinence period

+2 more outcomes measured

Conditions

Cannabis Use Disorder

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states

South Carolina1

Study leadership

Kevin M Gray, M.D. · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Medical University of South Carolina

Who to contact

Kevin Branson

[email protected]

843-792-0493

Email the study team

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Do you actually qualify for this trial?

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Able to provide informed consent and function at an intellectual level sufficient to allow accurate completion of all assessment instruments

Meet DSM-5 criteria for CUD and report using cannabis at least five times weekly over the past month. While individuals may also meet criteria for other mild substance use disorders, they must identify cannabis as their primary substance

Age 18-25

BMI between 18-30 (to decrease variability in CBD response and in endocannabinoid system measures)

AST, ALT, and total bilirubin within the laboratory reference range of normal

Consent to alcohol abstinence for 12 hours prior to study visits, three days of cannabis abstinence as part of study procedures, and abstinence from all substances aside from cannabis, alcohol, and nicotine for the duration of the study

Sexually active females of childbearing potential must agree to utilize an effective means of birth control.

Consent to random assignment to CBD versus placebo

Exclusion

Females who are pregnant, nursing, or planning to become pregnant during the study.

Current severe substance use disorder other than cannabis

Current medications or supplements with clinically significant interactions with cannabidiol (per Lexicomp, this list includes Blasting, Doxorubicin, Mavacamten, Pazopanib, Sirolimus, Topotecan, Vincristine, Afatinib, Berotraslstat, Cilostazol, Citalopram, Colchicine, Digoxin, Lefamulin, Relugolix, Relugolix+Estradiol+Norethindrone, Rimegepant, Tizanidine, Ubrogepant, and Venetoclax in the categories of "avoid combination" or "consider therapy modification")

Current unstable psychiatric or medical disorder that would interfere with safety, compromise data integrity, or preclude reliable participation

History of hypersensitivity to CBD, sesame, or sesame products

Inability to comply with study procedures

What this trial measures

Cannabis withdrawal symptomsAssessed after 3-day cannabis abstinence period
Cannabis Withdrawal Scale score (Allsop et al., 2011) \[minimum score 0 and maximum score 190; higher score means a worse outcome\]
Stress reactivityMeasured 5 minutes after laboratory-administered Trier Social Stress Task
Within Session Rating Scale - Stress score (Childress et al., 1986) \[minimum score 0 and maximum score 10; higher score means a worse outcome\]
Time to resumption of cannabis useMeasured as the time span from laboratory session to time of resumption of ad lib cannabis use (maximum of 10 days)
After 3-day abstinence phase and laboratory session, ecological momentary assessment will be conducted twice daily for a 10-day span. Participants may resume ad lib cannabis use, and will be prompted to self-report the day/time that they resume cannabis use \[minimum score 0 and maximum score 10 days, with the possibility of no resumption at all; higher score means a better outcome, and no resumption at all by the end of the 10 days is the best possible outcome\]

Trialytics