Tirzepatide in the Treatment of Cannabis Use Disorder

What Was Tested

This registered phase 3 trial tested Tirzepatide.

Cannabis is the most commonly used psychoactive substance in Canada.

A sub-group of cannabis users develop Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD).

CUD is a pattern of cannabis use that results in impairment in functioning, symptoms of tolerance, withdrawal, and distress.

It had 1 arm (groups): Single Arm (experimental).

This is an open-label single arm intervention. All participants will be offered both Tirzepatide and psychotherapy over the 12-week treatment period.

The registry classes the interventions as drug.

Who Took Part

Enrollment: 15 planned participants were the target.

It was open to people of any sex aged from 18 years with no upper age limit.

Healthy volunteers were not accepted; participants needed the condition being studied.

Examples of who could join: Adults aged 18 and above. DSM-5 Cannabis Use Disorder diagnosis of at least moderate severity (4+ DSM-5 symptoms). 4 or more days of cannabis use per week. A Body Mass Index (BMI) ≥ 22.

The full record lists 5 inclusion and 15 exclusion criteria; among the exclusions: meet dsm-5 criteria for cluster a or b personality disorders and/or unstable current bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or psychotic disorder; comorbid severe dsm-5 major depressive disorder; any other mental health condition deemed incompatible by the study team.

How the Study Was Run

Design: single-group and open-label.

Being open-label, the Tirzepatide study did not mask who received what.

Everyone received the same intervention, so there was no separate comparison group inside the trial.

It started in 2026-08-01 with completion listed for 2028-07-31.

It ran at 1 site in Canada.

Its stated primary purpose is treatment.

What Was Measured

Researchers chose this as the main measure: Tolerability of Tirzepatide-Assisted-Psychotherapy for Cannabis Use Disorder (time frame: From baseline to 12-week endpoint). Feasibility of Tirzepatide-Assisted-Psychotherapy for Cannabis Use Disorder (time frame: From baseline to 12-week endpoint).

It also tracked 4 secondary outcomes, for example Frequency and amount of cannabis use, Severity of Cannabis Use Disorder symptoms, Cannabis cravings and Cannabis withdrawal symptoms.

What This Means in Plain Language

Put simply, this is a phase 3 trial of Tirzepatide in 15 people.

Its size is small, so on its own it can only give an early look.

Its status is not yet recruiting; no results are posted to the registry yet, so nothing here describes outcomes.

More context: the Tirzepatide compound page, all human trials.