Recruiting
Phase 3

Cannabis

Sponsor:

University of Colorado, Denver

Code:

NCT05052541

Conditions

Back Pain

Neck Pain

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 21 - 70+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

THC/CBD

THC

Placebo

Study Details

Brief summary:

The overall objectives of this study are to investigate the efficacy of extended cannabis treatment to reduce patient exposure to prescription opioids through its use 1) as a non-opioid analgesic treatment, and 2) as a therapy for reducing high-dose opioid use in patients with chronic spine pain.

Conditions

Back Pain

Neck Pain

Study ID

NCT05052541

Start date

Jan, 2026

Status verified date

Jan, 2026

Completion date

Jun, 2027

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Jun, 2027

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 21 - 70+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Some inclusion/exclusion criteria are purposely omitted at this time to preserve scientific integrity. They will be included after the trial is complete.

Inclusion Criteria:

Self-reported chronic (≥3 months' duration), non-radicular spine pain

Exclusion Criteria:

Unwilling/unable to refrain from cannabis use (medical or recreational) for 14 days prior to Baseline Visit and throughout the study (other than study drug). This includes whole plant inhalation, edibles, extracts, and topicals.

Co-morbid cancer-related pain condition

Neuropathic Pain

A co-morbid pain condition that is of greater severity than the patient's spine pain

Spine or other major surgery within the 3 months prior to enrollment

Planned surgery or procedural intervention during the study period

Allergy or adverse reaction to cannabis

Current or historical substance use disorder

Current or historical alcohol use disorder

Current or prior cannabis abuse/dependence

Positive result for use of amphetamine/methamphetamine, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, cocaine, phencyclidine (PCP), ecstasy (MDMA), as detected on urine screen

Current use of valproate, clobazam, clopidogrel, warfarin, barbiturates, benzodiazepines

Prior adverse reaction to cannabis exposure (paranoia, anxiety, etc.)

History or diagnosis of schizophrenia, bipolar or a psychotic disorder

History of any mental health illness that in the opinion of the Investigator would compromise the safety of the participant

Current or historical severe depression

Current suicidal ideation

Diagnosed cognitive impairment (e.g. Alzheimer's Disease, traumatic brain injury)

Uncontrolled hypertension (>139/89)

Abnormal values on CBC (complete blood count) or CMP (comprehensive metabolic panel) laboratory analysis that are deemed clinically significant by study physician

Known hepatic disease or dysfunction, or identification of such on screening laboratory studies

Known cardiovascular disease

Abnormal result on electrocardiogram (ECG) that is deemed clinically significant by study MD

Cognitive disability that interferes with ability to provide consent or understand study procedure

History of seizure disorder

Any medical condition for which immunosuppressive therapy is required.

Inability to refrain from using tobacco for at least 4 hours

Presence of a condition or abnormality that in the opinion of the Investigator would compromise the safety of the participant or the quality of the data

Pending legal action or workers compensation

Pregnant females or females intending to become pregnant during the study period

Unwilling to use one of the accepted forms of contraception during the study period and for at least 60 days after completion of the study (females of childbearing potential and males with sexual partners of childbearing potential)

Lactating females

Analgesia Arm Exclusion Criteria:

Unwilling/unable to discontinue current opioid use for 14 days prior to Baseline study visit and throughout the study

Reduction Arm Exclusion Criteria:

Not interested in reducing or discontinuing use of prescribed opioids for chronic pain

Unwilling to allow the study team to communicate with the participant's opioid prescribing provider

\*Some inclusion/exclusion criteria are purposely omitted at this time to preserve scientific integrity. They will be included after the trial is complete.

Study Design

Enrollment

157 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Crossover

Primary purpose

Treatment

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: Analgesia Arm: THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), then THC/CBD (cannabidiol), then Placebo

Subjects in this crossover arm will be assigned to 6 weeks on THC oral solution, then 6 weeks on THC/CBD oral solution, then 6 weeks on Placebo oral solution. Frequency of drug administration is 3-4 times a day.

experimental: Analgesia Arm: THC, then Placebo, then THC/CBD

Subjects in this crossover arm will be assigned to 6 weeks on THC oral solution, then 6 weeks on Placebo oral solution, then 6 weeks on THC/CBD oral solution. Frequency of drug administration is 3-4 times a day.

experimental: Analgesia Arm: THC/CBD, then THC, then Placebo

Subjects in this crossover arm will be assigned to 6 weeks on THC/CBD oral solution, then 6 weeks on THC oral solution, then 6 weeks on Placebo oral solution. Frequency of drug administration is 3-4 times a day.

experimental: Analgesia Arm: THC/CBD, then Placebo, then THC

Subjects in this crossover arm will be assigned to 6 weeks on THC/CBD oral solution, then 6 weeks on Placebo oral solution, then 6 weeks on THC oral solution. Frequency of drug administration is 3-4 times a day.

experimental: Analgesia Arm: Placebo, then THC, then THC/CBD

Subjects in this crossover arm will be assigned to 6 weeks on Placebo oral solution, then 6 weeks on THC oral solution, then 6 weeks on THC/CBD oral solution. Frequency of drug administration is 3-4 times a day.

experimental: Analgesia Arm: Placebo, then THC/CBD, then THC

Subjects in this crossover arm will be assigned to 6 weeks on Placebo oral solution, then 6 weeks on THC/CBD oral solution, then 6 weeks on THC oral solution. Frequency of drug administration is 3-4 times a day.

experimental: Reduction Arm: THC/CBD

Subjects in this parallel arm will be assigned to 13 weeks on THC/CBD oral solution. Frequency of drug administration is 3-4 times a day.

placebo comparator: Reduction Arm: Placebo

Subjects in this parallel arm will be assigned to 13 weeks on Placebo oral solution. Frequency of drug administration is 3-4 times a day.

Interventions

THC/CBD

Oral solution containing 5mg THC and 50 mg CBD per 1 ml

THC

Oral solution containing 5mg THC per 1 ml

Placebo

Oral solution containing no active drug

Primary outcome measure

  • Change in chronic pain as measured by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain [ Time Frame: Weekly, up to week 22 ]
  • Change in opioid dose as measured in morphine milligram equivalents (MME) [ Time Frame: Weekly, up to week 22 ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Locations

University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

Recruiting

Aurora, Colorado, United States, 80045

Contacts

Principal Investigator:

Rachael Rzasa Lynn, MD

More Information

Sponsor

University of Colorado, Denver

Last update posted

Jan 23, 2026

Last verified

Jan, 2026

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-10. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by University of Colorado, Denver on 2026-01-23.