Testing Synthetic THC (Dronabinol) for Sickle Cell Disease Pain: A Clinical Trial Protocol
An 8-week randomized controlled trial will test whether dronabinol (synthetic THC) can reduce chronic pain and inflammation in sickle cell disease patients — a population with few good pain management options.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Protocol for an 8-week RCT of dronabinol for chronic SCD pain, with dual endpoints of pain reduction and inflammatory biomarker changes, positioned as an opioid alternative investigation.
Key Numbers
8-week duration; randomized double-blind placebo-controlled design; uses FDA-approved dronabinol; tracks both pain and inflammation biomarkers; targets patients with SCD and chronic pain.
How They Did This
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 8-week study of FDA-approved dronabinol (synthetic THC) for chronic pain in sickle cell disease patients, tracking both pain outcomes and inflammatory biomarkers.
Why This Research Matters
Sickle cell disease patients suffer severe chronic pain with limited options beyond opioids — investigating THC as both an analgesic and anti-inflammatory addresses two drivers of SCD pain simultaneously.
The Bigger Picture
This trial could establish cannabinoids as an evidence-based alternative to opioids for SCD — a condition disproportionately affecting Black Americans who already face disparities in pain treatment.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Protocol publication only (no results yet); dronabinol is synthetic THC only (no CBD component); 8 weeks may be insufficient to assess long-term effects; chronic pain is notoriously difficult to study.
Questions This Raises
- ?Will anti-inflammatory effects contribute to pain reduction beyond direct analgesic effects?
- ?Could whole-plant cannabis preparations outperform isolated THC for SCD pain?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Evidence Grade:
- Published protocol for a well-designed RCT, but no results yet — significance lies in addressing a major unmet need with rigorous methodology.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2026, representing a novel approach to SCD pain management with cannabinoids.
- Original Title:
- Investigating the effects of cannabinoids for the reduction of inflammation and sickle cell disease pain (CRISP); A protocol for a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study.
- Published In:
- PloS one, 21(1), e0340917 (2026)
- Authors:
- Bellis, Jordan(2), Monk, Lydia, Jhawar, Ritika(2), Pollock, Galia, Liu, Angela, Jacobs-McFarlane, Charleen, McCrary, Brittany, Glassberg, Jeffrey, Curtis, Susanna
- Database ID:
- RTHC-08114
Evidence Hierarchy
Frequently Asked Questions
Can THC help with sickle cell disease pain?
This clinical trial is designed to answer that question — it will test FDA-approved synthetic THC (dronabinol) against placebo for 8 weeks in SCD patients with chronic pain.
Why study cannabinoids for sickle cell disease specifically?
SCD pain is driven by both nerve signals and inflammation. THC may address both mechanisms simultaneously, potentially offering an opioid alternative for a condition with limited treatment options.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-08114APA
Bellis, Jordan; Monk, Lydia; Jhawar, Ritika; Pollock, Galia; Liu, Angela; Jacobs-McFarlane, Charleen; McCrary, Brittany; Glassberg, Jeffrey; Curtis, Susanna. (2026). Investigating the effects of cannabinoids for the reduction of inflammation and sickle cell disease pain (CRISP); A protocol for a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study.. PloS one, 21(1), e0340917. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0340917
MLA
Bellis, Jordan, et al. "Investigating the effects of cannabinoids for the reduction of inflammation and sickle cell disease pain (CRISP); A protocol for a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study.." PloS one, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0340917
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Investigating the effects of cannabinoids for the reduction ..." RTHC-08114. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/bellis-2026-investigating-the-effects-of
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.