Using a Field Performance Test on an iPad to Evaluate Driving Under the Influence of Cannabis

• Status: Recruiting
• Trial end date: 2019-06-01
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

This study was authorized by the California Legislature (Assembly Bill 266, the Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act (73) to help with detection of driving under the influence of cannabis. One hundred and eighty healthy volunteers will inhale smoked cannabis with either 0% (placebo), 5.9%, or 13.4% Δ9-THC at the beginning of the day, and then complete driving simulations, iPad-based performance assessments, and bodily fluid draws (e.g., blood, saliva, breath) before the cannabis smoking and a number of times over the subsequent 6 hours after cannabis smoking. The purpose is to determine (1) the relationship of the dose of Δ9-THC on driving performance and (2) the duration of driving impairment in terms of hours from initial use, (3) if saliva or expired air can serve as a useful substitute for blood sampling of Δ9-THC in judicial hearings and (4) if testing using an iPad can serve as a useful adjunct to the standardized field sobriety test in identifying acute impairment from cannabis.

• Phase: N/A
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Details

• Lead Sponsor: University of California, San Diego

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Be a licensed driver.

• Need to have acuity of 20/40 or better, with or without correction on a Snellen Visual Acuity eye chart.

Exclusion Criteria:

• At the discretion of the examining physician, individuals with significant cardiovascular, hepatic or renal disease, uncontrolled hypertension, and chronic pulmonary disease (eg, asthma, COPD) will be excluded.

• Unwillingness to abstain from cannabis for 2 days prior to screening and experimental visits

• Positive pregnancy test

• A positive result on toxicity screening for cocaine, amphetamines, opiates, and phencyclidine (PCP) will exclude individuals from participation.

• Unwilling to refrain from driving or operating heavy machinery for four hours after consuming study medication.