ByThe Highs and Lows of a Marijuana Clinical Trial
Medical marijuana has been in California since 1996. Not long after that, many other states have followed suit. As of 2019, cannabis use has been legalized in 14 U.S. states, whereas medical marijuana is in 33.
The general public, as well as many scientists and medical professionals, still debate about how effective marijuana can be for medical use. Opposing views aside, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a few cannabis-related treatments—Epidiolex (cannabidiol), Marinol (dronabinol), Cesamet (nabilone), and Syndros (dronabinol).
There are also many ongoing marijuana clinical trials. We’ll answer any questions you may have and help you sign up for a clinical trial of your choice.
What Are Marijuana Clinical Trials?
Clinical trials are necessary for medical progress. By researching new drugs and treatments, medical professionals can help plenty of patients fight and beat their illnesses.
Marijuana clinical trials can be:
- Observational—The research team observes the effects of medical marijuana use compared to other treatments. They can also compare different drug administration methods (cannabis lozenges, smoking, or vaporization)
- Treatment-related—These trials follow the common four clinical trial phases where the effectiveness, side effects, and comparison to standard treatments are a journey to approve medical marijuana
We can also categorize medical marijuana trials in terms of their participants. Clinical trial participants can be:
- Healthy volunteers—They are mostly needed in Phase I, though some studies don’t require healthy participants at all
- Patients suffering from a disease
The most common illnesses and health conditions that medical marijuana researchers are studying are:
- Chronic pain
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Lung cancer
- Glioblastoma
- Fibromyalgia
- HIV-related conditions
- Diabetes
- Alzheimer’s
What Are the Phases of a Medical Marijuana Clinical Trial?
When a research team decides to conduct a medical marijuana clinical trial, they must take several preparatory steps. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has to approve the start of the clinical study. A research center also needs to obtain a license from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Take a look at the overview of the clinical trial phases:
| Phase | Average Number of Participants | Types of Clinical Studies | Brief Description |
| Phase I | Under 50 | Double-blind, randomized, or no placebos |
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| Phase II | 50 to 100 | Randomized, placebo-controlled |
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| Phase III | 200 to 500 | Randomized, placebo-controlled |
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| Phase IV | Hundreds to thousands | Single group assignment (all participants receive the same treatment) |
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Do I Qualify for Marijuana Clinical Studies?
To participate in a clinical trial, you have to meet some inclusion and exclusion criteria.
You can be a healthy participant or a person suffering from a specific illness.
The most common inclusion criteria are:
- Age
- Disease type
- Stage of the disease
Exclusion criteria could be:
- Pregnancy
- Breastfeeding
- Prior cannabis use
- History of certain illnesses
- Organ dysfunction
- Age (children or the elderly)
Sign Up for a Marijuana Clinical Study With DoNotPay’s Help
Just googling “clinical trials near me” doesn’t cut it once you are aware of all the intricacies of clinical trials. Luckily, DoNotPay has created a useful AI-powered search tool to help you find the best clinical trials. Press a few buttons, and you’ll see a tailor-made list of clinical studies based on your preferences. Open DoNotPay in your , and do the following:
- Choose the Clinical Trials option
- Tap on the Get Started button
- Adjust the filters to fit your needs
- Click on the clinical trial that interests you
- Select Contact Now
Once you hit that button, we’ll contact the research facility and start the application process. The research center’s reps should contact you soon after to assess your eligibility.
Why Is DoNotPay the Best Way To Sign Up for a Marijuana Clinical Trial?
DoNotPay is the only search tool that combines numerous filters and helps you find the highest-paid clinical trials as well as those best suited to your illness.
DoNotPay’s clinical trials database comes with additional perks, including:
- Browsing a regularly updated homepage
- Contacting an unlimited number of research centers
- Finding paid medical surveys and university psychology studies
- Using our bookmarking feature to save and browse clinical trials easily
- Turning on text alerts to let you know when a new clinical study becomes available
How Else Can I Find Medical Marijuana Clinical Trials?
Finding a legitimate research center and a clinical trial that has been approved by the FDA can be daunting. If you choose to look for them on your own, make sure to check some of these reputable websites:
| Website | Key Features |
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The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center Studies Index |
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What Are the Pros and Cons of Participating in a Clinical Study?
Before deciding to take part in a clinical trial, you should weigh the pros and cons so you can be certain you have made an informed decision. Here are some perks and drawbacks to consider:
| Pros | Cons |
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DoNotPay Is Your Right-Hand Man in More Ways Than One
DoNotPay offers an array of detailed guides on other clinical trials based on medical conditions, such as migraine, dermatological conditions, psychological conditions, and ovarian cancer.
If you prefer to check which clinical trials are available in your area, we can accommodate that as well. See if there are any suitable trials in Utah, Arizona, Texas, or North Carolina.
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