Age Differences in the Effects of Cannabis on Simulated Driving

Recruiting now · Not applicable · Has a placebo group

Conditions studied: Cannabis

In brief

Epidemiological studies suggest that the use of cannabis is associated with an increase in the risk of motor vehicle collisions. It is also known that younger users may be at increased risk for motor vehicle collisions. Further, the frequency with which cannabis is used may be an important variable in determining the effects of cannabis on driving. The purpose of the present study will be to investigate the effects of cannabis on simulated driving in young as compared to middle-aged drivers. Half of the participants will be occasional users of cannabis and half will be frequent users of cannabis.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT04325958

Run by

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

People needed

128

Starts

2024-03-27

Expected to finish

2027-03-01

Last updated by the study team

2026-03-23

Who can join

Age: 19 and older, up to 45. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• 19-25 or 35-45 years of age;
• Use of smoked cannabis at least once in the past 6 months.
• Use of smoked or vaped cannabis primarily for recreational purposes on up to 1 day per week or on at least 6 days per week in the past 3 months;
• Holds a class G or G2 Ontario driver's licence (or equivalent from another jurisdiction) for at least 12 months;
• Willing to abstain from using alcohol for 24 hours and cannabis for 72 hours prior to Practice and Test Sessions;
• Willing to abstain from all other drugs not prescribed for medical purposes for 48 hours prior to Practice and Test Sessions;
• Resides within Toronto (study site) or can reside with friends/family in Toronto after a Test Session; this area may be extended to the Greater Toronto area if recruitment challenges arise;
• Participant willing to use appropriate contraception until their participation in the study is completed;
• Provides written and informed consent.

You may not qualify if…

• Use of cannabis primarily for therapeutic purposes, or equally for therapeutic and recreational purposes;
• Diagnosis of medical condition that contraindicates use of cannabis determined by self-report as judged by the Principal Investigator and a study physician; this includes a history of hypersensitivity to cannabinoids smoke, respiratory disease and/or severe cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, renal or liver disease, and bleeding disorders. Smoking cannabis is not recommended for individuals with respiratory diseases, and they will be excluded;
• Diagnosis of psychiatric condition that contraindicates use of cannabis determined by self-report or SCID-5;
• Participants of childbearing potential: Pregnancy (point-of-care test) or breastfeeding;
• Meets criteria for current or lifetime alcohol or other substance use disorder (DSM-5), except tobacco use disorder and caffeine use disorder;
• Is a regular user of medications that affect brain function (based on self-report); this includes concomitant therapy with sedative-hypnotics or other psychoactive drugs
• Use of anti-hypertensives;
• First-degree relative diagnosed with schizophrenia or another psychotic disorder.
• Participation in a past driving study at CAMH (to limit practice effects).
• Participation in a clinical study concurrent with their participation in this study.

Where it is running

• Centre for Addiction and Mental Health — Toronto, Ontario, Canada (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

Trial information comes from ClinicalTrials.gov and is refreshed daily. TrialsForMe does not provide medical care and does not run the studies it lists.