Balancing Analgesic Effects and Abuse Liability in Older Adults: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Oral and Vaporized Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol

Cannabis use is rising fastest among older adults in the U.S., and pain is among the most common reasons they use it. No trial, however, has measured the trade-off between the analgesic and abuse-related effects of {Delta}9-tetrahydrocannabinol ({Delta}9-THC) in this population. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 20 adults aged 65 and older were assigned to oral {Delta}9-THC (placebo, 5, 10 mg) or vaporized {Delta}9-THC (placebo, 2, 4 mg) across three eight-hour sessions in counterbalanced order. We assessed laboratory-evoked pain sensitivity using quantitative sensory te

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