Plain-English translation of NCT04982965 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated · Translation generated · How we translate trials
Phase 1 — Testing in a small group (usually 20–80 people) to find a safe dose and watch for side effects.
This study is investigating how cannabis—specifically the active ingredient THC—affects your brain's pain processing and provides relief for chronic lower back pain. Researchers will compare the effects of real cannabis to a placebo (inactive) version while monitoring your brain activity and pain responses. This research may help scientists better understand how this medication works and lead to improved pain treatments in the future.
Chronic lower back pain is extremely common and disabling, but current treatment options are limited. While this medication has shown promise for pain relief, scientists don't yet fully understand how it works in the brain or why it helps some people with long-lasting pain.
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You will visit the UC San Diego research center for one session. During your visit, you'll complete questionnaires about your pain and mood, undergo heat and movement tests to assess your pain, and then inhale either real or placebo cannabis through a vaporizer under staff supervision. Before and after inhaling, researchers will scan your brain using MRI and repeat the pain tests to see how the treatment affects your brain activity and pain responses.
AI-generated summary from trial data · Jul 4, 2026 · Not medical advice
United States