Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) awarded The University of Kentucky Research Foundation a $647,142 Project Grant effective February 15, 2026, under the Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs (CFDA 93.279) to conduct controlled research examining the impact of cannabis on opioid self-administration in individuals with opioid use disorder. The award funds two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled inpatient studies designed to generate public health data on whether cannabis alters the drive to use opioids. Study 1 will evaluate how repeated inhaled cannabis exposure (active cannabis at 30 milligrams tetrahydrocannabinol [THC] versus inactive placebo) impacts intranasal oxycodone self-administration across multiple dose levels (0, 45, and 90 milligrams). Study 2 will determine whether cannabis, when offered as an alternative drug option, can alter individuals' choice to use opioids. Both studies will enroll participants with moderate-to-severe opioid use disorder and opioid physical dependence.

This research project addresses a critical gap in the evidence base, as no controlled studies have previously examined cannabis use impacts on opioid drug-taking behaviors in high-risk populations despite the epidemic levels of both opioid misuse and cannabis use globally, and despite several U.S. states designating opioid use disorder as a qualifying condition for medical cannabis. The project period extends through November 30, 2030, and research will be conducted at the University of Kentucky Research Foundation facility in Lexington, Kentucky.