Evaluating Advertising Claims on Cannabis Purchasing
This study is looking at how different types of advertising for cannabis products affect what people buy online. Researchers are interested in how claims about mental health benefits, like "Calming" or "Helps with: Stress," influence purchasing decisions. They also want to see if a warning label about the negative effects of THC (the main intoxicating compound in cannabis) on anxiety and depression can change these decisions. You might be able to join if you are 21 or older, live in the U.S., use cannabis occasionally, and have mild to severe symptoms of depression or anxiety. The study will measure how many milligrams of THC you purchase, the average strength of products you buy, and the total number of products purchased in a simulated online shopping task.
- Study design
- This interventional study plans to enroll 2000 participants. You will be exposed to one of three online cannabis store conditions: neutral product claims, claims about mental health effects, or mental health claims plus a warning label.
- What's involved
- Not specified in the trial record.
- Compensation
- Not stated in the trial record.
- Follow-up
- Your purchasing behavior will be assessed once, immediately after completing a simulated shopping task.
AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.
Evaluating the Impact of Psychotherapeutic Advertising Claims on Cannabis Purchasing
At a glance
Conditions
NCT07216911
Where you'd take part
This study runs at 1 site. They're the same protocol — you choose where, and that choice sets who your contact draft is addressed to.
Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College
Lebanon, New Hampshireno site contact published
Sites open and close at different times, so the status above is per site — it can differ from the study's overall status.
Study leadership
- Jennifer Emond, PHD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Dartmouth College
- James Sargent, MD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center
- Alan Budney, PHD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Dartmouth College
Who to contact
This trial hasn't published a contact. View it on ClinicalTrials.gov
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Exclusion
What this trial measures
- Milligrams of THC PurchasedAssessed once immediately after completion of the simulated shopping task (cross-sectional, baseline assessment only)
This outcome measures the cumulative amount of Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) that participants select during their shopping session in the simulated online cannabis store. THC is the primary psychoactive compound in cannabis, and its quantity is a critical factor in understanding purchasing behavior. Rationale: Measuring total mgTHC allows us to assess whether exposure to PAC or WL influences the overall amount of THC that participants intend to consume. This is important because higher THC consumption is associated with an increased risk of adverse mental health effects. Data Collection: During the shopping task, each cannabis product will list its THC content. The total THC purchased will be calculated by taking the weight of each product purchased and multiplying it by the product's THC potency. The total mgTHC purchased will be the sum of these calculations for all products in the participant's cart.
- Average potency (%THC) of products purchasedAssessed once immediately after completion of the simulated shopping task (cross-sectional, baseline assessment only)
This outcome measures the average THC potency of cannabis products selected by participants during the simulated shopping task. THC potency is expressed as a percentage of the product's total weight. Rationale: The average potency of purchased products provides insight into participants' preferences for higher versus lower potency cannabis. This measure is important for understanding the potential influence of PAC, which may encourage selection of higher potency products by implying stronger psychotherapeutic effects. Conversely, WL may reduce the selection of high-potency products by emphasizing the risks associated with elevated THC levels. Data Collection: The average THC potency will be calculated by summing the THC percentages of all products purchased and dividing this total by the number of products purchased.
- Overall number of products purchasedAssessed once immediately after completion of the simulated shopping task (cross-sectional, baseline assessment only)
This outcome measures the total number of cannabis products that participants add to their cart during the simulated shopping task. Rationale: The number of products purchased serves as an indicator of purchasing behavior and preference for product variety. This measure helps assess whether participants exposed to PAC are more likely to purchase a greater number of different products, potentially due to claims about diverse effects or benefits. Similarly, it helps to understand if WL reduces the number of products purchased by making participants more cautious. Data Collection: The total number of products purchased will be recorded directly from each participant's shopping cart at the end of the shopping task.