Vaped Cannabis Reduced the Severity of Naloxone-Precipitated Opioid Withdrawal in One Patient
In a single participant with opioid use disorder, pretreatment with vaped cannabis reduced naloxone-precipitated withdrawal severity in a dose-dependent manner without dangerous vital sign changes.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
In one male participant (age 52) with OUD stabilized on oral morphine (120 mg/day), naloxone alone produced a COWS score of 22 at 30 minutes. Cannabis pretreatment at 12.5 mg reduced COWS to 17, and at 25 mg reduced it to 14. Combined naloxone and cannabis produced elevated heart rate and blood pressure, but not more than naloxone alone.
Key Numbers
N=1 (male, age 52). Morphine stabilization: 120 mg/day. COWS scores at T+30: naloxone alone=22; naloxone+cannabis 12.5mg=17; naloxone+cannabis 25mg=14. Dose-dependent reduction.
How They Did This
Proof-of-concept inpatient crossover study. Single participant completed 6 dose combinations of vaped cannabis (0, 12.5, 25 mg) and intranasal naloxone (0, 4 mg) during morphine stabilization (120 mg/day). Primary outcome: COWS withdrawal score.
Why This Research Matters
Fear of precipitated withdrawal is a major barrier to naloxone use. If cannabis can reduce withdrawal severity, combined naloxone-cannabis formulations could increase willingness to administer naloxone during overdose emergencies.
The Bigger Picture
This preliminary finding complements preclinical evidence that cannabinoids can reduce opioid withdrawal symptoms. If confirmed in larger studies, it could transform overdose reversal strategies.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Single participant limits any conclusions. Major methodological redesign was needed during the study (reasons not detailed). Cannot generalize from n=1. Cannabis formulation and dose may not reflect real-world use. Inpatient setting is highly controlled.
Questions This Raises
- ?Would this withdrawal reduction replicate in a larger sample?
- ?Could a combined naloxone-cannabinoid nasal spray be developed for overdose reversal?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Cannabis pretreatment reduced opioid withdrawal severity score from 22 to 14 in one patient
- Evidence Grade:
- Single participant proof-of-concept provides the lowest level of evidence. Study required major methodological redesign, suggesting feasibility challenges.
- Study Age:
- 2025 publication.
- Original Title:
- The effects of vaped cannabis on the severity of naloxone-precipitated opioid withdrawal.
- Published In:
- Experimental and clinical psychopharmacology (2025)
- Authors:
- Jones, Jermaine D, Martinez, Suky, Arout, Caroline(2), Haney, Margaret, Castillo, Felipe, Manubay, Jeanne, Perez, Freymon, Luba, Rachel R, Comer, Sandra D
- Database ID:
- RTHC-06770
Evidence Hierarchy
Read More on RethinkTHC
- 420-sober-survival-guide
- CBT-cannabis-recovery
- THC-potency-increase-over-time
- cannabis-harm-reduction-opioids-alcohol-replacement
- cannabis-legalization-effects-health-data
- cannabis-relapse-cycle-pattern
- cannabis-tolerance-break-guide
- cold-turkey-vs-taper-quit-weed
- dating-sober-after-quitting-weed
- exercise-quitting-weed-anxiety-brain
- grieving-quitting-weed-loss
- help-someone-quit-weed
- how-to-cut-back-on-weed-moderation
- how-to-quit-weed
- journaling-weed-withdrawal
- marijuana-anonymous-SMART-recovery-compare
- meditation-mindfulness-weed-withdrawal
- microdosing-cannabis-benefits
- partner-still-smokes-weed
- partner-still-smokes-weed-quitting
- pink-cloud-sobriety-cannabis
- quit-weed-cold-turkey
- quit-weed-or-cut-back-which-is-better
- quit-weed-regret-went-back
- quitting-weed-20s
- quitting-weed-30s
- quitting-weed-after-years
- quitting-weed-during-crisis-divorce-job-loss
- quitting-weed-exercise
- quitting-weed-grief-loss-coping
- quitting-weed-legal-state
- quitting-weed-success-stories
- quitting-weed-triggers-environment
- relapsed-smoking-weed-what-to-do
- relapsed-weed
- safer-cannabis-use-guidelines
- should-i-quit-weed
- sober-music-festival-concert-without-weed
- sober-october-weed
- supplements-weed-withdrawal
- telling-friends-quitting-weed
- tolerance-break-weed
- weed-for-opioid-withdrawal
- weed-relapse-prevention-plan
- weed-relapse-why-it-happens
- weed-ritual-replacement
- weed-ruined-relationships
- weed-social-media-triggers-quit
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-06770APA
Jones, Jermaine D; Martinez, Suky; Arout, Caroline; Haney, Margaret; Castillo, Felipe; Manubay, Jeanne; Perez, Freymon; Luba, Rachel R; Comer, Sandra D. (2025). The effects of vaped cannabis on the severity of naloxone-precipitated opioid withdrawal.. Experimental and clinical psychopharmacology. https://doi.org/10.1037/pha0000796
MLA
Jones, Jermaine D, et al. "The effects of vaped cannabis on the severity of naloxone-precipitated opioid withdrawal.." Experimental and clinical psychopharmacology, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1037/pha0000796
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "The effects of vaped cannabis on the severity of naloxone-pr..." RTHC-06770. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/jones-2025-the-effects-of-vaped
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.