Cannabis Use Didn't Prevent Methadone Patients from Keeping Take-Home Privileges
Most methadone patients who continued using THC maintained their take-home medication privileges for 10 months during COVID-era relaxed regulations.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Among 33 patients in an opioid treatment program with relaxed COVID-era take-home rules, the majority with continuing THC use remained eligible for take-home methadone for 10 months. Most were employed, insured, and stably housed. Log Rank Tests on socioeconomic predictors showed no statistical significance.
Key Numbers
33 patients studied. Majority maintained take-home eligibility for 10 months despite continued THC use. Most were employed, insured, and stably housed. No statistically significant socioeconomic predictors found.
How They Did This
Retrospective analysis of 33 patients at a single mid-western opioid treatment program. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis assessed months of eligibility for weekly take-home methadone among patients with continuing THC use during COVID-19 emergency regulations.
Why This Research Matters
Many opioid treatment programs restrict take-home methadone for patients who test positive for THC. This small study suggests that THC use alone may not predict poor outcomes, potentially supporting more flexible policies.
The Bigger Picture
The COVID pandemic's forced relaxation of opioid treatment rules created a natural experiment. Evidence that less restrictive THC policies didn't lead to worse outcomes could help modernize methadone program rules beyond the emergency period.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Very small sample size (33 patients) at a single site. No control group without THC use. Socioeconomic stability of the cohort may not be representative. COVID-era context limits generalizability to normal conditions.
Questions This Raises
- ?Would larger studies confirm that THC use doesn't affect methadone treatment outcomes?
- ?Should opioid treatment programs permanently relax THC-related restrictions?
- ?Does THC use serve a therapeutic purpose for some methadone patients?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Evidence Grade:
- Very small single-site retrospective study provides preliminary evidence but is insufficient to draw definitive conclusions about policy changes.
- Study Age:
- Published 2026, analyzing COVID-era (2020-2021) regulatory changes.
- Original Title:
- Clinical outcomes from a mid-western opioid treatment program during covid-19 emergency regulations: a brief report on the effect of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) use on take home methadone access.
- Published In:
- Harm reduction journal, 23(1), 32 (2026)
- Authors:
- LaCourt, Erin T, Ibekie, Oranu, Dike, Charles C, Jegede, Oluwole
- Database ID:
- RTHC-08407
Evidence Hierarchy
Looks back at existing records to find patterns.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Does cannabis use affect methadone treatment success?
In this small study of 33 patients, continuing THC use did not prevent patients from maintaining their take-home methadone privileges for 10 months, though the study was too small to draw definitive conclusions.
Should methadone programs test for THC?
This preliminary evidence suggests THC use alone may be less important than other factors in predicting methadone treatment outcomes, potentially supporting less restrictive policies — but larger studies are needed before changing clinical practice.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-08407APA
LaCourt, Erin T; Ibekie, Oranu; Dike, Charles C; Jegede, Oluwole. (2026). Clinical outcomes from a mid-western opioid treatment program during covid-19 emergency regulations: a brief report on the effect of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) use on take home methadone access.. Harm reduction journal, 23(1), 32. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-026-01399-w
MLA
LaCourt, Erin T, et al. "Clinical outcomes from a mid-western opioid treatment program during covid-19 emergency regulations: a brief report on the effect of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) use on take home methadone access.." Harm reduction journal, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-026-01399-w
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Clinical outcomes from a mid-western opioid treatment progra..." RTHC-08407. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/lacourt-2026-clinical-outcomes-from-a
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.