Cannabinoids for Osteoarthritis Pain Effectiveness Trial

Recruiting now · Not applicable · Has a placebo group

Conditions studied: Osteoarthritis of Knee, Osteoarthritis Hip

In brief

This study aims to investigate whether oral cannabis extracts can effectively manage pain caused by osteoarthritis (OA), a common joint condition affecting one in seven Canadians. Current OA treatments often have limited effectiveness and may cause side effects. As a result, many individuals with OA turn to medical cannabis for pain relief, despite limited scientific evidence supporting its efficacy. The goal of this study is to assess the feasibility of a larger trial evaluating the effects of two cannabis compounds-CBD and THC-compared to a placebo (a look-alike substance containing no active drug) on pain interference in patients with hip and/or knee osteoarthritis. Participants will: * Take either CBD, THC, or a placebo capsule daily for 8 weeks * Complete follow-ups remotely, with no in-person clinic visits required * Maintain a diary tracking their study drug usage and any additional pain medications

Key facts

Study ID

NCT06878417

Run by

University Health Network, Toronto

People needed

100

Starts

2026-01-29

Expected to finish

2027-02-28

Last updated by the study team

2026-07-16

Who can join

Age: 40 and older, up to 80. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Age 40-80 years
• Diagnosed with hip and/or knee osteoarthritis as per the American College of Rheumatology criteria
• Experiencing moderate to severe pain interference as indicated by a PROMIS-PI SF-6a T-score ≥ 60
• Have not initiated any new analgesics or osteoarthritis treatments in the previous 4 weeks
• Able to self-report, understand and read English or French

You may not qualify if…

• Hip or knee surgery planned in the coming 4 months,
• Injection into the affected joint(s) within the past 3 months (e.g., cortisone, plasma-rich protein, etc.),
• Planned injection into the affected joint(s) during trial period,
• Inflammatory arthritis (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, Psoriatic arthritis, gout, etc.),
• Contraindications to taking cannabis/cannabinoids,
• Used nabilone or nabiximols in the last 30 days,
• Used cannabis (medical or recreational) in the last 30 days (to allow sufficient washout),
• A history of diagnosed cannabis use disorder or dependence,
• Active substance use disorder,
• Current DSM-V diagnosis of bipolar disorder, major depression, or psychosis,
• An uncontrolled medical or major psychiatric disorder,
• Currently on warfarin,
• Known pregnancy or currently breastfeeding,
• Men and women planning a pregnancy during the study or in the 12 weeks after stopping IPs
• No fixed address or a plan to change addresses in the coming 4 months,
• Known or suspected allergy to palm/coconut oil

Where it is running

• University Health Network — Toronto, Ontario, Canada (enrolling)
• Women's College Hospital — Toronto, Ontario, Canada (enrolling)
• McGill University Health Centre/Montreal General Hospital — Montreal, Quebec, Canada (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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