RM-CRC Pilot Award Recipients 2024
2024 Awardee: Jonathon Lisano, PhD
Institution: University of Colorado-Boulder
"Individuals Using Cannabis to Cope with Anxiety and Chronic Pain: Daily and longitudinal associations of cannabis use on anxiety, pain, physical activity, and sleep"
Abstract: Currently, the majority of clinical-based cannabis research focuses on identifying acute or longitudinal changes in a single behavioral health outcome. No research is currently assessing the impact of cannabis use on multiple outcomes simultaneously utilizing daily data in tandem with longitudinal data. This study proposes using harmonized data from two P50 data core studies (N=638) that have robust daily and longitudinal data to complete a secondary analysis of the impact of cannabis on four behavioral health outcomes (anxiety, pain, physical activity, and sleep quality). The analyses will first focus on identifying individual changes in each of these four outcomes and will then explore if those changes moderate secondary effects in the remaining outcomes. Not only will these analyses help identify primary effects of cannabis on key behavioral health outcomes in participants with medical motives for use (treating mild or greater anxiety or chronic pain), but also identify novel secondary effects that result in the improvement of other behavioral health outcomes as a result. The data gathered from these analyses will be leveraged for future grant applications and are the first step to incorporating biomarkers with behavioral outcomes to gain a better understanding of the biobehavioral effects of cannabis.
Jonathon Lisano, PhD
University of Colorado-Boulder
2024 Awardees: Andrew Monte, MD, PhD & Joshua Black, PhD
Institutions: Denver Health, Rocky Mountain Poison & Drug Safety, University of Colorado-Anschutz
"Cannabis Outcomes & Use National Target Survey (COUNTS)"
Abstract: The global objective of Cannabis Outcomes & Use National Target Survey (COUNTS) is to inaugurate a nationally representative surveillance system of cannabis use patterns across US communities that can be leveraged for studying individual health trajectories and policy evaluation. This study will use an innovative online survey approach paired with novel statistical methodology to provide detailed data on cannabis use patterns and health outcome data down to local community levels in the US. The innovative approach to extrapolating incident health outcomes allows the team at Rocky Mountain Poison & Drug Safety to use cross sectional data to predict how cannabis use patterns contribute to health outcome trajectories in the patients. We will use COUNTS to institute enhanced national surveillance of specific cannabis formulations and cannabis-related behaviors (Aim 1), estimate population incidence of health outcomes due to cannabis use (Aim 2) and quantify societal effects of mental & physical health on cannabis use and outcomes (Aim 3). These data will be available for the Rocky Mountain Cannabis Research Center (RM-CRC) researchers, public health officials, policymakers, and cannabis users themselves to aid in decisions about cannabis policy and use.
Andrew Monte, MD, PhD
Joshua Black, PhD
2024 Awardee: Julia Wrobel, PhD
Institution: Emory University
"Statistical and machine learning methods for characterizing driving impairment due to recent cannabis use"
Abstract: The legalization of cannabis in 38 states and the District of Columbia has led to widespread consumption, with an estimated 61.9 million Americans aged 12 or older using cannabis in 2022. As cannabis use increases, so do concerns about its impact on public safety, particularly regarding occupational and driving-related impairments. Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive compound in cannabis, impairs cognitive and motor function, increasing the risk of accidents. Current detection methods are invasive, subjective, and do not accurately indicate recent use or impairment. Furthermore, common metrics for assessing alcohol-related driving impairment are not well-validated for detecting cannabis-impaired driving, underscoring the need for cannabis-specific impairment metrics. This project aims to harmonize existing data from seven NIH-funded studies and pair this data with advanced machine learning tools to identify and predict acute cannabis use and driving-related impairment. This research addresses a significant public health issue by developing reliable tools to detect recent cannabis use and impairment, helping to prevent injuries and fatalities associated with cannabis consumption and ensuring safer roads and workplaces.
Julia Wrobel, PhD
Emory University
Rocky Mountain Cannabis Research Center (RM-CRC)
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1890 N. Revere Ct., Aurora, CO 80045
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