ClinicalTrials.gg
CompletedNCT03491384Updated Aug 27, 2025Results posted

Anxiety, Inflammation, Stress, and Cannabinoids

An observational study in Anxiety, Anxiety Disorders and Anxiety Generalized, sponsored by University of Colorado, Boulder. Completed at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 21 Years to 70 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-08-27.

Primary conditionGeneralized Anxiety DisorderRegistry: Anxiety DisordersReclassifiedWhy we changed it
Registry
Anxiety Disorders — the first condition term the registry derived for this study.
ClinicalTrials.gg
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Why
  1. The registry often attaches Anxiety Disorders to studies about something else, and this study's title and listed conditions do not name it.
  2. The study's listed conditions name Generalized Anxiety Disorder, a narrower term within Anxiety Disorders.
Confidence
High: the new condition is named in the study's own listed conditions. Of 351 hand-checked studies reclassified this way, 68% were exactly right and 84% in the right disease family; the registry's first term was right for 5% (measured 2026-10-21). How we classify →
Wrong?
Tell us the study's main condition →

Sponsored by University of Colorado, Boulder · Observational

Study type
Observational
Model
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrollment
361
Ages
21 Years to 70 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

This study investigates whether the anxiolytic effects and anti-inflammatory properties of cannabis vary as a function of the ratio of CBD to THC, with the goal that these effects may shed light on the mixed data linking cannabis use and anxiety. Individuals with mild to moderate anxiety who elect to use cannabis (smoked flower or edible) will complete four weeks of observation. Participants complete cognitive tasks, a substance use history, health questionnaires concerning sleep and physical activity, and a blood draw at four different time points (Baseline, after 2 weeks of cannabis use, and immediately before and after self-administration after 4 weeks of use) with the use of a mobile pharmacology laboratory, which goes to a convenient location for each participant to self-administer their cannabis. Participants are then followed for five months to self-report on cannabis use, anxiety, subjective cognitive functioning, sleep quality, and other mental health symptoms.

Read the detailed description

Marijuana use is on the rise with the number of adults reporting medical and recreational use doubling in the past decade. Among adult medical marijuana users, 39% report using marijuana for the purposes of self-treating or coping with anxiety. Marijuana is approved for medical use in over half the states and is gaining traction for use as an "off-label" add-on therapy for treatment-resistant anxiety and stress-related disorders. Paradoxically, however, while data suggest that marijuana, in particular ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), increases anxiety acutely, cross sectional and longitudinal data suggest associations between marijuana use and lower risk for anxiety disorders.

There is some evidence demonstrating that marijuana use is associated with increases in acute anxiety and anxiety disorders. However, other data suggests that marijuana use may be protective for adolescents at-risk for anxiety and decrease the chances of developing an anxiety disorder during college. This finding is consistent with a growing body of evidence from animal models suggesting that marijuana has anxiolytic and anti-inflammatory properties. Clarifying the anxiolytic effects of specific strains that differ in their cannabinoid composition may explain these discrepant findings. Thus, regardless of whether results support or refute the anxiolytic properties of marijuana, findings from this study fill a critical void and can inform public perception.

The study goal is to understand the anxiolytic effects of cannabinoids, in particular the effects of THC-based strains vs. CBD-based strains vs strains containing both THC and CBD in different ratios (1:0, 1:1, or 0:1) on inflammation, cognitive functioning, and anxiety/negative affect. This design will capitalize on the novel opportunity to examine the effects of real world marijuana strains on key outcomes.

02

Conditions studied

  • Anxiety
  • Anxiety Disorders
  • Anxiety Generalized
  • Anxiety Chronic
  • Inflammation
  • Inflammatory Response

Browse trials for

Keywords

  • anxiety
  • inflammation
  • cannabis
  • marijuana
  • stress
03

In context

Generalized Anxiety Disorder Reclassified

517 studies on the registry are indexed under Generalized Anxiety Disorder; 124 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 361 is above the median of 270 across 62 observational studies indexed under Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

Browse Generalized Anxiety Disorder studies →

Lead sponsor

University of Colorado, Boulder is the lead sponsor of 88 studies on the registry; 20 are open to participants now.

Compared within Generalized Anxiety Disorder, this study's primary condition as ClinicalTrials.gg classifies it; the registry's first condition term is Anxiety Disorders. The counts are of registry records indexed under each term, refreshed daily. How we classify →

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
21 Years to 70 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No
Sampling method
Non-probability sample

Study population

Community Sample

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  • Non-users of cannabis must have been a non-user of cannabis for at least six months
  • If a user of cannabis, at least one episode of lifetime cannabis use and a desire to use cannabis to cope with anxiety.
  • Reports at least mild to moderate anxiety (≥5 on GAD-7)

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Seeking treatment for a substance use disorder
  • Current use of other drugs (e.g., cocaine, methamphetamine)
  • Current use psychotropic or -based medications
  • Has an immune-relevant disease (e.g. )
  • Daily tobacco user
  • Currently pregnant or trying to become pregnant
  • In treatment for psychotic disorder, bipolar disorder or major depression disorder with suicidal ideation; or a history with these disorders.
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(2)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

Corticosteroids (steroids)

Anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone — not the anabolic steroids used for muscle.

Studies differ in what they allow: check which steroid medicines, routes (tablets, injections, creams, inhalers, eye drops) and doses this study accepts.

HIV

The human immunodeficiency virus, which weakens the immune system.

Many studies now accept people whose HIV is controlled on treatment, judged by the viral load and the CD4 count. Check the limits this study sets.

05

Study design

Observational model
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrollment
361 participants (actual)
Patient registry
No
Biospecimen retention
Samples with dna

Interventions

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in Anxiety: Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS21).

    The DASS21 is a 21-item scale that measures self-reported change in anxiety, depression, and stress symptoms. Participants are asked to use 4-point severity/frequency scales (higher values indicate greater severity) to rate the extent to which they have experienced each state. Scores for Depression, Anxiety and Stress are calculated by summing the scores for the relevant items. Changes in DASS subscale self-report will be tested in relation to THC and CBD blood levels. For this aim, only the Anxiety subscale was used. Anxiety subscale score range 0-42 Normal 0-6; Mild 7-9; Moderate 10-14; Severe 15-19; Extremely severe 20-42

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 4 weeks: Baseline (before 4 weeks of cannabis use) and Post-Administration (after 4 weeks of use and after acute self-administration)

  2. Change in Inflammation: Circulating Levels of Cytokines (Panel of Inflammatory Markers).

    Change in inflammation from before to after cannabis use will be tested in relation to THC and CBD blood levels. The sum concentration of the cytokines IL-1a, IL-1b, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, and TNFα, which are generally regarded as pro-inflammatory, will be utilized. The range for these values can be from 0 to infinity. Higher values indicate higher (worse) levels of inflammation.

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 4 weeks: Baseline (before 4 weeks of cannabis use) and Post-Administration (after 4 weeks of use and after acute self-administration)

  3. Patient Global Impression of Change: Global Impression of Change Scale (PGIC).

    Patient Global Impression of Change Scale (PGIC) measures self-reported change on a 1-7 scale (i.e. from 1 (very much worse) to 7 (very much improved) in anxiety. Changes in this measure will be tested in relation to THC and CBD blood levels. Scale possible score range 0-7, with higher scores indicating the largest amount of possible change.

    Time frame: This was administered only once, at the 4 week timepoint, asking participants to reflect on how much change they had experienced over the past 4 weeks.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Cognitive Impairment: NIH Toolbox Cognitive Battery, Flanker Inhibitory Control Attention Task (FICA) and International Shopping List Test (ISLT).

    Co-outcomes testing multiple domains of thinking, memory, and perception (NIH Toolbox), cognitive impairment in the domains of immediate and delayed recall (ISLT), attention and inhibitory control (FICA). Cognitive outcomes are measured in standard scores (e.g. Range of \>70 to \>140 (Mean of 100 and SD of 15) with higher scores indicating better performance) and can be averaged to reflect a Standard score of overall cognitive function.

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 4 weeks: Baseline (before 4 weeks of cannabis use) and Post-Administration (after 4 weeks of use and after acute self-administration)

  2. Self-Reported Affect in the Context of Negative Affect Induction Task

    Participants reported levels of negative affect on a novel scale from -50 (worst) to +50 (best) while undergoing a guided rumination to induce negative affect.

    Time frame: Acute change in affect from before the negative affect induction task to post-breathing

  3. Change in Depression: Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS21).

    The DASS21 is a 21-item scale that measures self-reported change in anxiety, depression, and stress symptoms. Participants are asked to use 4-point severity/frequency scales (higher values indicate greater severity) to rate the extent to which they have experienced each state. For this aim, only the Depression subscale was used. Depression subscale score range 0-21 Normal (0 to 4), Mild (5 to 6), Moderate, (7 to 10), Severe (11 to 13), Extremely Severe (14 and above)

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 4 weeks: Baseline (before 4 weeks of cannabis use) and Post-Administration (after 4 weeks of use and after acute self-administration)

  4. Health and Wellbeing

    Self-report measure across primary domains of diet, assessment of sleep quality, and health-related well-being. Each domain was assessed with the following single items: Diet: "In general, how healthy is your overall diet? Would you say" (response options 0- excellent; 1- very good; 2- good; 3- fair; 4- poor) Sleep Quality: "During the past 2 weeks, how would you rate your sleep quality overall?" (response options 0- very good; 1- fairly good; 2- fairly bad; 3- very bad") Health Related Wellbeing: "In general, how would you describe your health?" (response options 0- excellent; 1- very good; 2- good; 3- fair; 4- poor)

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 4 weeks: Baseline (before 4 weeks of cannabis use) and Post-Administration (after 4 weeks of use and after acute self-administration)

  5. Motor Battery: Balance and Motor Function

    Motor control assessed via dynamic sway, proprioception, and finger tapping rate. Motor outcomes can be aggregated via Z-score to reflect a Z-score of overall motor function. We calculated the sum of Motor Battery Balance (Eyes Open, Eyes Closed, and Head Back) z-scores. A score of 0 means a participant's balance is at the mean for the sample. Higher scores (scores greater than 0) correspond to worse balance compared to the sample. Scores lower than 0 indicate better balance compared to the sample.

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 4 weeks: Baseline (before 4 weeks of cannabis use) and Post-Administration (after 4 weeks of use and after acute self-administration)

  6. Objective Physical Activity/Exercise

    Physical activity via objective daily data on wearable watch as measured by average minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA).

    Time frame: 4 weeks

  7. Physical Activity/Exercise

    Physical activity via subjective self-report data using the Stanford Leisure-Time Activity Categorical item with 6 item responses (L-CAT; 1-6). Scores are reported as a mean between 1 and 6, larger numbers correspond to higher levels of activity.

    Time frame: 4 weeks

  8. Change in Stress: Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS21).

    The DASS21 is a 21-item scale that measures self-reported change in anxiety, depression, and stress symptoms. Participants are asked to use 4-point severity/frequency scales (higher values indicate greater severity) to rate the extent to which they have experienced each state. For this aim, only the Stress subscale was used. Stress subscale score range 0-33 Normal (0 to 14), Mild (15 to 18), Moderate, (19 to 25), Severe (26 to 33)

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 4 weeks: Baseline (before 4 weeks of cannabis use) and Post-Administration (after 4 weeks of use and after acute self-administration)

Other outcomes

  1. Exploratory: Daily Follow-Up Messages

    Brief self-report from participants on anxiety and sleep in the past 24 hours. These are all 1-item novel questions in a daily, text based survey. Anxiety and sleep are on a scale of 1-10, with higher numbers being more anxiety or better sleep. Score is an average rating over 30 days.

    Time frame: One survey per day for 30 days (at the start of the 4 week study)

  2. Exploratory: Monthly Follow-Up Surveys

    Self-report from participants on anxiety (DASS anxiety subscale), sleep (novel sleep quality question ranging from 1-10 and 10 being best sleep), subjective cognitive functioning (perceived cognitive ability from the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Cognitive Function scale as was already reported in secondary measures- see for full description), and general health health (novel health question as was also reported in secondary measures- see for full description).

    Time frame: 5 months (post-study completion)

07

Results

Posted Dec 9, 2024

Participant flow

Participant flow — Overall Study
MilestoneNon-UseTHC GroupCBD GroupTHC+CBD Group
Started4410511795
Completed42869280
Not completed2192515

Outcome measures

PrimaryChange in Anxiety: Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS21).

The DASS21 is a 21-item scale that measures self-reported change in anxiety, depression, and stress symptoms. Participants are asked to use 4-point severity/frequency scales (higher values indicate greater severity) to rate the extent to which they have experienced each state. Scores for Depression, Anxiety and Stress are calculated by summing the scores for the relevant items. Changes in DASS subscale self-report will be tested in relation to THC and CBD blood levels. For this aim, only the Anxiety subscale was used. Anxiety subscale score range 0-42 Normal 0-6; Mild 7-9; Moderate 10-14; Severe 15-19; Extremely severe 20-42

Time frame:
Change from baseline to 4 weeks: Baseline (before 4 weeks of cannabis use) and Post-Administration (after 4 weeks of use and after acute self-administration)
Reported as:
Mean · units on a scale
Change in Anxiety: Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS21).
units on a scaleNon-UseTHC GroupCBD GroupTHC+CBD Group
Baseline9.38 ± 7.7110.1 ± 6.6910.5 ± 7.299.85 ± 6.31
4 Weeks6.78 ± 6.637.14 ± 5.575.39 ± 4.736.33 ± 5.6
PrimaryChange in Inflammation: Circulating Levels of Cytokines (Panel of Inflammatory Markers).

Change in inflammation from before to after cannabis use will be tested in relation to THC and CBD blood levels. The sum concentration of the cytokines IL-1a, IL-1b, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, and TNFα, which are generally regarded as pro-inflammatory, will be utilized. The range for these values can be from 0 to infinity. Higher values indicate higher (worse) levels of inflammation.

Time frame:
Change from baseline to 4 weeks: Baseline (before 4 weeks of cannabis use) and Post-Administration (after 4 weeks of use and after acute self-administration)
Reported as:
Mean · pg/mL
Change in Inflammation: Circulating Levels of Cytokines (Panel of Inflammatory Markers).
pg/mLNon-UseTHC GroupCBD GroupTHC+CBD Group
Baseline484.38 ± 1280.36110.41 ± 152.31294.71 ± 501.34324.04 ± 871.24
4 Week62.95 ± 88.15125.62 ± 173.02218.07 ± 487.29338.05 ± 949.23
PrimaryPatient Global Impression of Change: Global Impression of Change Scale (PGIC).

Patient Global Impression of Change Scale (PGIC) measures self-reported change on a 1-7 scale (i.e. from 1 (very much worse) to 7 (very much improved) in anxiety. Changes in this measure will be tested in relation to THC and CBD blood levels. Scale possible score range 0-7, with higher scores indicating the largest amount of possible change.

Time frame:
This was administered only once, at the 4 week timepoint, asking participants to reflect on how much change they had experienced over the past 4 weeks.
Reported as:
Mean · score on a scale
Patient Global Impression of Change: Global Impression of Change Scale (PGIC).
score on a scaleNon-UseTHC GroupCBD GroupTHC+CBD Group
Patient Global Impression of Change: Global Impression of Change Scale (PGIC).4.4 ± 0.935.07 ± 0.965.2 ± 0.735.24 ± 0.93
SecondaryCognitive Impairment: NIH Toolbox Cognitive Battery, Flanker Inhibitory Control Attention Task (FICA) and International Shopping List Test (ISLT).

Co-outcomes testing multiple domains of thinking, memory, and perception (NIH Toolbox), cognitive impairment in the domains of immediate and delayed recall (ISLT), attention and inhibitory control (FICA). Cognitive outcomes are measured in standard scores (e.g. Range of \>70 to \>140 (Mean of 100 and SD of 15) with higher scores indicating better performance) and can be averaged to reflect a Standard score of overall cognitive function.

Time frame:
Change from baseline to 4 weeks: Baseline (before 4 weeks of cannabis use) and Post-Administration (after 4 weeks of use and after acute self-administration)
Reported as:
Mean · score on a scale
Cognitive Impairment: NIH Toolbox Cognitive Battery, Flanker Inhibitory Control Attention Task (FICA) and International Shopping List Test (ISLT).
score on a scaleNon-UseTHC GroupCBD GroupTHC+CBD Group
Baseline108.753 ± 1.003107.846 ± 9.442109.799 ± 9.453108.218 ± 0.353
4 Weeks112.917 ± 10.676112.451 ± 9.087114.367 ± 9.14112.772 ± 11.357
SecondarySelf-Reported Affect in the Context of Negative Affect Induction Task

Participants reported levels of negative affect on a novel scale from -50 (worst) to +50 (best) while undergoing a guided rumination to induce negative affect.

Time frame:
Acute change in affect from before the negative affect induction task to post-breathing
Reported as:
Mean · score on a scale
Self-Reported Affect in the Context of Negative Affect Induction Task
score on a scaleNon-UseTHC GroupCBD GroupTHC+CBD Group
Baseline34.415 ± 15.5633.518 ± 17.09733.966 ± 14.18433.416 ± 15.25
4 weeks34.805 ± 11.936.687 ± 14.64936.193 ± 14.44836.147 ± 14.312
SecondaryChange in Depression: Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS21).

The DASS21 is a 21-item scale that measures self-reported change in anxiety, depression, and stress symptoms. Participants are asked to use 4-point severity/frequency scales (higher values indicate greater severity) to rate the extent to which they have experienced each state. For this aim, only the Depression subscale was used. Depression subscale score range 0-21 Normal (0 to 4), Mild (5 to 6), Moderate, (7 to 10), Severe (11 to 13), Extremely Severe (14 and above)

Time frame:
Change from baseline to 4 weeks: Baseline (before 4 weeks of cannabis use) and Post-Administration (after 4 weeks of use and after acute self-administration)
Reported as:
Mean · score on a scale
Change in Depression: Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS21).
score on a scaleNon-UseTHC GroupCBD GroupTHC+CBD Group
Change in Depression: Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS21).10.095 ± 8.5889.442 ± 8.9218.901 ± 8.3338.425 ± 9.144
SecondaryHealth and Wellbeing

Self-report measure across primary domains of diet, assessment of sleep quality, and health-related well-being. Each domain was assessed with the following single items: Diet: "In general, how healthy is your overall diet? Would you say" (response options 0- excellent; 1- very good; 2- good; 3- fair; 4- poor) Sleep Quality: "During the past 2 weeks, how would you rate your sleep quality overall?" (response options 0- very good; 1- fairly good; 2- fairly bad; 3- very bad") Health Related Wellbeing: "In general, how would you describe your health?" (response options 0- excellent; 1- very good; 2- good; 3- fair; 4- poor)

Time frame:
Change from baseline to 4 weeks: Baseline (before 4 weeks of cannabis use) and Post-Administration (after 4 weeks of use and after acute self-administration)
Reported as:
Mean · units on a scale
Health and Wellbeing
units on a scaleNon-UseTHC GroupCBD GroupTHC+CBD Group
Baseline Self Reported Diet1.643 ± 0.9321.791 ± 0.8831.857 ± 0.951.7750 ± 0.914
4 Week Self Reported Diet1.659 ± 0.8251.741 ± 0.8041.811 ± 0.7921.772 ± 0.784
Baseline Sleep Quality1.167 ± 0.6961.221 ± 0.5821.348 ± 0.671.362 ± 0.68
4 Week Sleep Quality1.167 ± 0.5371.14 ± 0.5571.066 ± 0.6111.2 ± 0.582
Baseline Health-Related Wellbeing1.238 ± 0.7261.291 ± 0.811.217 ± 0.7241.275 ± 0.675
4 Week Health-Related Wellbeing1.463 ± 0.7451.338 ± 0.8161.618 ± 0.7111.614 ± 0.748
SecondaryMotor Battery: Balance and Motor Function

Motor control assessed via dynamic sway, proprioception, and finger tapping rate. Motor outcomes can be aggregated via Z-score to reflect a Z-score of overall motor function. We calculated the sum of Motor Battery Balance (Eyes Open, Eyes Closed, and Head Back) z-scores. A score of 0 means a participant's balance is at the mean for the sample. Higher scores (scores greater than 0) correspond to worse balance compared to the sample. Scores lower than 0 indicate better balance compared to the sample.

Time frame:
Change from baseline to 4 weeks: Baseline (before 4 weeks of cannabis use) and Post-Administration (after 4 weeks of use and after acute self-administration)
Reported as:
Mean · z-score
Motor Battery: Balance and Motor Function
z-scoreNon-UseTHC GroupCBD GroupTHC+CBD Group
Baseline sum Motor Battery Balance score0.0195 ± 0.0070.0192 ± 0.0060.0173 ± 0.0050.0202 ± 0.014
Change in Balance score at 4 weeks0.0214 ± 0.0110.0201 ± 0.0060.0182 ± 0.0050.0195 ± 0.007
SecondaryObjective Physical Activity/Exercise

Physical activity via objective daily data on wearable watch as measured by average minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA).

Time frame:
4 weeks
Reported as:
Mean · minutes
Objective Physical Activity/Exercise
minutesNon-UseTHC GroupCBD GroupTHC+CBD Group
Objective Physical Activity/Exercise1711.07 ± 1055.731751.97 ± 1075.781487.81 ± 1060.911712.53 ± 1114.56
SecondaryPhysical Activity/Exercise

Physical activity via subjective self-report data using the Stanford Leisure-Time Activity Categorical item with 6 item responses (L-CAT; 1-6). Scores are reported as a mean between 1 and 6, larger numbers correspond to higher levels of activity.

Time frame:
4 weeks
Reported as:
Mean · score on a scale
Physical Activity/Exercise
score on a scaleNon-UseTHC GroupCBD GroupTHC+CBD Group
Baseline scores on L-CAT3.476 ± 1.2343.523 ± 1.3263.571 ± 1.3673.612 ± 1.392
Change in scores at 4-weeks on L-CAT3.415 ± 1.2243.5 ± 1.2993.4 ± 1.2343.481 ± 1.357
SecondaryChange in Stress: Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS21).

The DASS21 is a 21-item scale that measures self-reported change in anxiety, depression, and stress symptoms. Participants are asked to use 4-point severity/frequency scales (higher values indicate greater severity) to rate the extent to which they have experienced each state. For this aim, only the Stress subscale was used. Stress subscale score range 0-33 Normal (0 to 14), Mild (15 to 18), Moderate, (19 to 25), Severe (26 to 33)

Time frame:
Change from baseline to 4 weeks: Baseline (before 4 weeks of cannabis use) and Post-Administration (after 4 weeks of use and after acute self-administration)
Reported as:
Mean · score on a scale
Change in Stress: Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS21).
score on a scaleNon-UseTHC GroupCBD GroupTHC+CBD Group
Change in Stress: Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS21).13.714 ± 8.57213.023 ± 7.63112.374 ± 7.13612.4 ± 7.99
Other pre-specifiedExploratory: Daily Follow-Up Messages

Brief self-report from participants on anxiety and sleep in the past 24 hours. These are all 1-item novel questions in a daily, text based survey. Anxiety and sleep are on a scale of 1-10, with higher numbers being more anxiety or better sleep. Score is an average rating over 30 days.

Time frame:
One survey per day for 30 days (at the start of the 4 week study)
Reported as:
Mean · units on a scale
Exploratory: Daily Follow-Up Messages
units on a scaleNon-UseTHC GroupCBD GroupTHC+CBD Group
Anxiety Rating3.457 ± 2.3863.394 ± 2.1023.51 ± 2.1673.133 ± 2.066
Sleep Quality Rating5.687 ± 1.7855.72 ± 1.745.63 ± 1.8185.455 ± 1.773
Other pre-specifiedExploratory: Monthly Follow-Up Surveys

Self-report from participants on anxiety (DASS anxiety subscale), sleep (novel sleep quality question ranging from 1-10 and 10 being best sleep), subjective cognitive functioning (perceived cognitive ability from the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Cognitive Function scale as was already reported in secondary measures- see for full description), and general health health (novel health question as was also reported in secondary measures- see for full description).

Time frame:
5 months (post-study completion)
Reported as:
Mean · units on a scale
Exploratory: Monthly Follow-Up Surveys
units on a scaleNon-UseTHC GroupCBD GroupTHC+CBD Group
Anxiety3.246 ± 3.2673.067 ± 3.152.844 ± 2.9743.216 ± 3.153
Sleep6.145 ± 1.6715.763 ± 1.795.837 ± 1.7085.595 ± 1.626
Subjective Cognitive Impairment4.657 ± 11.0585.756 ± 10.2224.88 ± 7.9187.718 ± 14.185
General Health1.455 ± 0.7791.367 ± 0.8931.606 ± 0.7451.588 ± 0.777

Adverse events

Collected over Participants were monitored from Baseline to 4 weeks.. Non-serious events are listed at a 0% frequency threshold.

Adverse event summary by group
GroupDeathsSeriousOther
Non-Use0/42 (0%)0/42 (0%)0/42 (0%)
THC Group0/86 (0%)0/86 (0%)0/86 (0%)
CBD Group0/92 (0%)0/92 (0%)0/92 (0%)
THC+CBD Group0/80 (0%)0/80 (0%)0/80 (0%)

Baseline characteristics

Age, Continuous
Age, Continuous(years)Non-UseTHC GroupCBD GroupTHC+CBD GroupTotal
Mean35.3 ± 14.431.3 ± 11.729.5 ± 10.932.3 ± 12.531.6 ± 12.2
Sex: Female, Male
Sex: Female, Male(Participants)Non-UseTHC GroupCBD GroupTHC+CBD GroupTotal
Female27504745169
Male15364535131
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)(Participants)Non-UseTHC GroupCBD GroupTHC+CBD GroupTotal
Hispanic or Latino475420
Not Hispanic or Latino38798776280
Unknown or Not Reported00000
Region of Enrollment
Region of Enrollment(participants)Non-UseTHC GroupCBD GroupTHC+CBD GroupTotal
United States42869280300
Anxiety: DASS 21
Anxiety: DASS 21(units on a scale)Non-UseTHC GroupCBD GroupTHC+CBD GroupTotal
Mean9.38 ± 7.7110.14 ± 6.6910.46 ± 7.2910.14 ± 6.6910.11 ± 6.86
08

Study locations

1 site
  • Center for Innovation and Creativity
    Boulder, Colorado 80304, United States
09

References and documents

Publications

  • Lisano JK, Rosa L, Giordano G, Bryan AD, Bidwell LC. Physical Activity Level Moderates Cannabis-Associated Reductions in Negative Affect in Anxious Individuals. Clin Ther. 2026 Mar 20:S0149-2918(26)00041-X. doi: 10.1016/j.clinthera.2026.02.007. Online ahead of print. PubMed 41864773 ↗
  • Martin-Willett R, Skrzynski CJ, Bryan AD, Bidwell LC. Effects of Cannabinoids on Emotional States and Alcohol Use Among Underrepresented Groups: Moderation by Perceived Discrimination. Hum Psychopharmacol. 2025 Sep;40(5):e70016. doi: 10.1002/hup.70016. PubMed 40916181 ↗
  • Skrzynski CJ, Rosa L, Drake A, Bryan AD, Bidwell LC. Experimental study on cannabis use and affect: Effects on reactivity to and recovery from negative stimuli. J Psychopathol Clin Sci. 2025 Aug;134(6):639-650. doi: 10.1037/abn0001023. Epub 2025 Jun 16. PubMed 40522823 ↗
  • Bidwell LC, Martin-Willett R, Skrzynski C, Lisano J, Ortiz Torres M, Giordano G, Hutchison KE, Bryan AD. Acute and Extended Anxiolytic Effects of Cannabidiol in Cannabis Flower: A Quasi-Experimental ad libitum Use Study. Cannabis Cannabinoid Res. 2024 Aug;9(4):1015-1027. doi: 10.1089/can.2023.0187. Epub 2024 Jan 22. PubMed 38252547 ↗

Study documents

PDFs hosted by the registry, ClinicalTrials.gov.

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

10

Timeline

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
ElapsedEstimatedEstimated, not yet reachedSimilar studies: half by the dot; the band is the middle halfHalf of similar studies reached it by the dot; the band is the middle half, from a quarter to three quarters

Ran from Apr 2018 to primary completion in Dec 2022, 56 months.

Results were first posted in Dec 2024, 1 year 11 months after primary completion.

Of 24 observational studies under Generalized Anxiety Disorder, half reached primary completion within 17 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 9 and three quarters within 56. This study's 56 months is above that.

How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.

Registered
Feb 28, 2018
First posted
Apr 9, 2018
StartActual
Apr 1, 2018
Primary completionActual
Dec 30, 2022
CompletionActual
May 17, 2023
Results first posted
Dec 9, 2024
Last update
Aug 27, 2025
What these dates mean
Start.
When the first participant enrolled; while estimated, when the study expects to open to recruitment.
Primary completion.
When the last participant was examined or treated to collect data for the study's main question, its primary outcome. A study that stopped early gives the date its data collection stopped.
Completion.
When the last participant's last visit took place, for every outcome, secondary ones and side effects included: the end of the study. Often later than primary completion, sometimes the same day.
Actual and Est.
Actual means the registry says the date has happened. Est. (estimated) is a date the sponsor plans or expects. It can still move, and the sponsor is expected to change it to actual once it has passed.
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Aug 27, 2025, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
11

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT03491384
Lead sponsor
University of Colorado, Boulder
Responsible party
L. Cinnamon Bidwell (Assistant Research Professor, University of Colorado, Boulder) — Principal investigator
First posted
Apr 9, 2018
Start date
Apr 1, 2018
Primary completion
Dec 30, 2022
Completion
May 17, 2023
Results posted
Dec 9, 2024
Last update
Aug 27, 2025

Study contacts

Cinnamon Bidwell, PhD
principal investigator · University of Colorado, Boulder

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is completed, as verified in Aug 2025. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

Follow this study

Get an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.

Sign in to follow

Discussion

Questions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.

Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.

Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.

Start the discussion