Behavioral Economic Analysis of Demand for Marijuana

This laboratory study will employ a multi-session experimental design to examine craving for
marijuana, the effect of marijuana administration (High THC) on behavioral economic demand
for marijuana, and marijuana smoking topography. The study will recruit 100 non-treatment
seeking marijuana users who smoke marijuana at least twice weekly. The relationship between
hypothetical and actual demand for marijuana will be examined. We will also investigate
relationship between demand for marijuana and indices of marijuana smoking topography. The
study will recruit 100 non-treatment seeking marijuana users who smoke marijuana at least
twice weekly to obtain a final sample of 85 with complete data (15% of attrition).
Participants will be tested at a baseline session and during two experimental sessions (an ad
libitum marijuana smoking session and a marijuana smoking topography session). This study
will confirm the utility of the hypothetical marijuana purchase task as a reliable and valid
tool for assessing behavioral economic marijuana demand.

Inclusion Criteria:

- marijuana use at least 8 times in the past month on average and at least monthly for
the past 6 months

- English-speaking

- negative urine toxicology screen for drugs other than marijuana

- non-treatment seeking

- purchase of marijuana at least twice in the past 6 months to confirm familiarity with
the construct to be measured

Exclusion Criteria:

- positive pregnancy test

- nursing

- inability to use contraception during the study

- poor physical health

- positive breath alcohol concentration

- diagnosis of a current affective disorder, psychosis, and panic disorder

- self-report of past serious adverse reaction to marijuana

- current psychotropic drug use

- smoking more than 20 tobacco cigarettes per day

- inability to abstain from marijuana for 15 hours

- body mass index outside 18.5-30 kg/m2 range