Rationale: Cannabis dependence is a growing public health concern as there is currently no effective pharmacotherapy. There are some psychotherapies available, but many participants do not achieve abstinence. Dronabinol is a synthetic THC analog used in the treatment of HIV/AIDs-induced anorexia and nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy treatment in patients who have failed to respond to conventional anti-nausea medications (O’Donnell, 2023).

Method: 156 cannabis-dependent adults seeking outpatient treatment for problems related to marijuana use were recruited by local advertising or by clinical referral. A Randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, 12-week clinical trial compared dronabinol to placebo in the treatment of Cannabis Use Disorder. The experimental group received 20mg of Dronabinol twice a day, and the other received placebo.

Results: The group receiving Dronabinol had significantly better treatment retention than the placebo group. This was quantified by a 77% retention in the Dronabinol group versus 61% in the placebo condition. The higher retention seemed to be caused by a significant decrease in reported withdrawal symptoms rather than cravings being reduced. Cravings did not vary by condition.

Meaning: Dronabinol could prove to be an effective treatment for cannabis withdrawal symptoms. This could mean an easier transition for people struggling with their use in both a clinical or at-home setting with regulated dosage. This should be taken with a grain of salt, as dronabinol shows up on drug screens in place of THC, so relapse was self-reported, and the data could be inflated.