The Medical Marijuana for Chronic Pain (MCP) Study – For People with Chronic Pain

STUDY BASICS

Do you have chronic pain and are not using medical or recreational marijuana? Are you aged 60 or older? If so, you may be eligible to participate in a single visit research study to help learn more about thinking, walking, and quality of life in older adults. Compensation provided.

STUDY PURPOSE

Chronic pain, defined as pain that lasts for three months or longer, affects millions of older adults. Some older adults use medical marijuana to relieve symptoms associated with chronic pain, but little is known about how medical marijuana affects walking and thinking abilities in adults over 60 years of age. The purpose of this study is to help researchers learn more about thinking, walking, and quality of life in older adults by comparing people who do and do not use medical marijuana for chronic pain.

COULD THIS STUDY BE RIGHT FOR YOU?

• Ages 60 and up
• Have had chronic pain every day, or almost every day, for at least the past three months
• Not using recreational or medical marijuana for chronic pain
• No current or past history of recreational drug use
• Able to walk without assistance for about two minutes on a flat and firm surface without stopping (use of cane OK)
• Not diagnosed with heart failure, Meniere’s disease, stroke, spinal cord damage with weakness, schizophrenia, seizure disorder or epilepsy, Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, or moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury or concussion
• Not taking any medications that target memory, such as for Alzheimer’s disease
• No use of supplemental oxygen
• No hospitalization for a major illness in the last three months
• No joint surgery or joint replacement in the past six months
• No serious vision or hearing issues
• Not alcohol dependent
• Fluent in English

WHAT PARTICIPANTS CAN EXPECT

Participation involves one visit that will last about three hours. During the visit, participants will be asked to walk indoors on a level surface, and perform computerized and paper/pencil mental tasks.