Cannabis Extracts and Study Drugs
Two different whole-plant cannabis extracts were obtained from the NIDA Drug Supply Program. The Δ9-THC-dominant cannabis extract contained 70% Δ9-THC, 2.7% cannabigerol (CBG), 1.5% cannabinol (CBN), less than 1% tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), cannabichromene (CBC), and Δ8-THC, and no detectable CBD. The CBD-dominant cannabis extract contained 59.3% CBD, 2.1% CBC, 2.0% Δ9-THC, 1.1% CBG, and less than 1% CBN, THCV, and Δ8-THC. Both extracts were manufactured in accordance with cGMP regulations and were decarboxylated prior to use in the study. Extracts were suspended in an ethanol mixture to allow for precision with dosing, stability testing was conducted throughout the study, and sample brownies were made and tested periodically to ensure accuracy in target dosing. Placebo brownies were made with an approximately equal volume of ethanol added to the brownie mix; ethanol was allowed to dissipate from the batter prior to baking the brownies. Brownies were selected as the edible formulation based on our prior studies using this matrix to reliably deliver cannabis and be tolerated by healthy adults at the doses used.