# Monitoring acute and longer-term effects of cannabis on psychomotor performance in daily life in medical cannabis patients

> **NIH NIH U01** · RUTGERS BIOMEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES · 2024 · $714,155

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
Although therapeutic use of cannabis is increasing, findings are mixed regarding therapeutic effects of
cannabis for certain conditions, such as anxiety. Further, acute cannabis effects could adversely impact
psychomotor performance (e.g., slowed reaction time), with subsequent negative effects on daily activities
(e.g., work performance, driving skills). Low burden methods to monitor acute cannabis effects through
sensors in personal smartphones could ultimately help reduce cannabis's acute negative effects on
psychomotor performance by helping to raise a person's awareness of cannabis-related impairment. Toward
this goal, this R01 will collaborate with individuals who use medical cannabis (MC) in monitoring, with their
smartphone, acute therapeutic and adverse effects of cannabis use. Individuals who use MC commonly report
cannabis use to relieve chronic pain and/or anxiety, the two conditions of interest for this R01. Smartphone will
be used to conduct symptom monitoring of acute cannabis effects on chronic pain and anxiety using Ecological
Momentary Assessment (EMA). Phone sensor data will be used to examine acute cannabis effects on
psychomotor performance. These fine-grained smartphone "micro" data (e.g., momentary-level) will be
combined with longer-term follow-up over 1-year, to examine the impact of cannabis use at a more "macro"
level (e.g., over months), because cannabis effects (e.g., on anxiety) at "micro" and "macro" time scales may
differ. This R01 will recruit individuals who report therapeutic use of cannabis, with chronic pain and/or anxiety
as the primary reasons for MC use (N=400, age >18; 50% female). Participants complete lab assessments at
baseline, 3-, 6-, and 12-months in a repeated measures design. Saliva sample for THC and CBD level will be
done at baseline, 3-, 6-, and 12-months. Each assessment (baseline, 3-, 6-, 12-months) is followed by 14-day
daily EMA and phone sensor data collection. Daily EMA (3x/day) and self-initiated EMA of cannabis use
(medical, non-medical) will be used. Phone sensor data include, for example, keyboard use (not message
content), and accelerometer (e.g., to detect activity level). Study aim 1 will examine links between acute
cannabis use and effects (EMA report), psychomotor performance (phone sensor data), and self-reported daily
cognitive functioning (e.g., react slowly to things). Study aim 2 will test links, over 1-year, of longer-term effects
of cannabis use, computerized measures of psychomotor performance, and self-report of cannabis-related
consequences. For each aim, gender differences in cannabis's short and longer term effects will be explored.
The combination of fine-grained subjective (EMA) and objective (phone sensor) data, collected at micro (EMA)
and macro time scales over 1-year, will help resolve mixed findings on possible cannabis-related therapeutic
benefit, acute risks, and longer-term outcomes (e.g., on psychomotor performance). In line with NIDA priorities,
th...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10907689
- **Project number:** 5U01DA056472-02
- **Recipient organization:** RUTGERS BIOMEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES
- **Principal Investigator:** Tammy Chung
- **Activity code:** U01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $714,155
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-08-15 → 2028-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10907689

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10907689, Monitoring acute and longer-term effects of cannabis on psychomotor performance in daily life in medical cannabis patients (5U01DA056472-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10907689. Licensed CC0.

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