# NCT07513337: Effects of Cannabis Species Labeling and Marketing on Perceptual, Subjective and Objective Use Outcomes (Aim 2 Study) Registry record: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07513337 (retrieved 2026-09-30). Sponsor: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. ## What you are forecasting **Primary hypothesis (implied by design):** Cannabis ads carrying a strain label (indica, sativa or hybrid) or an effect claim (energizing or sedating) lower perceived harm of one-time use compared with an ad carrying neither. **Resolution rule:** Supported if at least one of the two main effects (any strain label vs no strain label; any effect claim vs no claim) significantly lowers one-time-use harm perception (0-4). Effects on the other four primary outcomes do not decide this forecast. **Alpha:** 0.05, two-sided, unless the report states otherwise **Effect metric for your 90% interval:** Mean difference in one-time-use harm perception, 0-4 scale, labelled/claimed ads vs the corresponding no-label/no-claim level (positive = lower perceived harm). **Moderator to consider:** Do current cannabis users and non-users respond differently to the labels and claims? ## Design - Allocation: RANDOMIZED; model: FACTORIAL; purpose: OTHER - Masking: NONE - Enrollment: 3035 (actual) - Phase: NA - Status on registry: COMPLETED; start 2026-04-15; primary completion 2026-07-16 (actual) ## Arms - **Indica/Energizing** (experimental): Ad features Indica label + energizing claim - **Indica/Sedating** (experimental): Ad features Indica label + sedating claim - **Indica/No claim** (experimental): Ad features Indica label + no claim - **Sativa/Energizing** (experimental): Ad features Sativa label + energizing claim - **Sativa/Sedating** (experimental): Ad features Sativa label + sedating claim - **Sativa/No claim** (experimental): Ad features Sativa label + no claim - **Hybrid/Energizing** (experimental): Ad features Hybrid label + energizing claim - **Hybrid/Sedating** (experimental): Ad features Hybrid label + sedating claim - **Hybrid/No claim** (experimental): Ad features Hybrid label + no claim - **No strain/Energizing** (experimental): Ad features no strain label + energizing claim - **No strain/Sedating** (experimental): Ad features no strain label + sedating claim - **No strain/No claim** (no intervention): Ad features no strain label + no claim ## Primary outcome(s) as registered - **Harm perception - One time use** (Immediately after viewing ad): How harmful participant perceives the product to be after one time use. Participants will answer a survey item, In your opinion, what is the level of risk to one's health from using the product you just viewed one time?; with response options ranging from 0-Very low risk to 4-Very high risk. - **Harm perception - Daily use** (Immediately after viewing ad): How harmful participant perceives the product to be with daily use. Participants will answer a survey item, In your opinion, what is the level of health risk from using the product you just viewed on a daily basis?; with response options ranging from 0-Very low risk to 4-Very high risk. - **Expectancy effects** (Immediately after viewing ad): Effects participant expects to feel after using the product. Participants will answer a survey item, Please rate the extent to which you expect to feel each of the following effects \[paranoid; panicked; fearful; anxious; suspicious; like my heart is racing; sluggish; drowsy; out of it; slow; lazy; excited; heightened senses; sociable; creative; wise; in tune with nature; focused; productive; sleepy; happy; euphoric; calm; relaxed; pain-free\] after using the product you just viewed; with response options ranging from 0-not at all to 10-extremely. - **Willingness to use** (Immediately after viewing ad): How willing participant is to use the product. Participants will answer a survey item, How willing would you be to use the product you just viewed?; with response options ranging from 0-Not at all willing to 4-Very willing. - **Willingness to use during daily activities** (Immediately after viewing ad): How willing participant is to use the product during daily activities. Participants will answer a survey item, How willing would you be to use the product you just viewed if you \[wanted to concentrate; wanted to relax; wanted to socialize; wanted to do a creative activity (e.g., art, music); wanted to feel happier; wanted to relieve medical symptoms/treat a medical condition/mental health condition; were going to drive a car in the next 30 minutes; were going to bed in the next 30 minutes; were planning to stay home for the next several hours; were going to work in the next 30 minutes; were at a party\]?; with response options ranging from 0-Not at all willing to 4-Very willing. ## Population Ages 21 Years to n/a; sex: ALL; healthy volunteers: True. Inclusion Criteria: * Age = 21+ * Live in in a US state (or Washington D.C.) in which recreational cannabis sale is legal and implemented * For inexperienced users: lifetime cannabis use \>1 \& \<= 10 * For experienced users: lifetime cannabis use\>10 \& \<100, past month cannabis use\>0 Exclusion Criteria: * Under age 21 * Does not live in a US state (or Washington D.C.) in which recreational cannabis sale is legal and implemented * Lifetime cannabis use \>=100 times * Lifetime cannabis use \<1 time * Lifetime cannabis use\>10 \& \<100 AND past month cannabis use=0 ## Registry summary This study looks at how cannabis product label and marketing claims affect product perceptions, use expectancies, and use intentions among inexperienced and experienced cannabis users. Participants will answer online survey questions on their perceptions of a cannabis product advertisement. ## Registry detailed description This study aims to specify how product label and marketing claims affect product perceptions, use expectancies, and use intentions among cannabis users. A randomized 4 (Sativa, Indica, Hybrid, no strain label) x 3 (energizing, sedative, no claim) online experiment will be conducted with a sample of adults from states that have legalized adult cannabis recreational use. Our main research questions are: (1) Do label and marketing claim affect (a) harm perceptions, (b) subjective effects expectancies (e.g., arousal, sedation), (c) willingness to use, and (d) willingness to use during daily activities (e.g., driving)? and (2) Do label and marketing claim interact to affect product perceptions, use expectancies, and use intentions?