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Updated May 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

RECRUITINGPhase 2INTERVENTIONAL

Cannabis for the Prophylactic Treatment of Migraine

Cannabis for the Prophylactic Treatment of Migraine: a Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

Cannabis for the Prophylactic Treatment of Migraine (NCT03972124) is a Phase 2 interventional studying Chronic Migraine, sponsored by University of Calgary. RECRUITING as of the most recent ClinicalTrials.gov update. Talk to your doctor before contacting the trial site.

Important: This information is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

About This Trial

This study will evaluate the efficacy and safety of cannabis for the treatment of chronic migraine headaches. Study subjects will be randomized to one of three groups: lower dose CBD, higher dose CBD or placebo.

What Stage of Research Is This?

Phase 2 trials evaluate whether a treatment actually works against Chronic Migraine and continue monitoring side effects. Phase 2 enrolls larger groups (typically 100–300 patients) and produces the first real efficacy signal. A successful Phase 2 readout is what unlocks the much larger Phase 3 confirmatory trials needed for FDA approval.

This trial is currently recruiting participants. The sponsor has registered the study with ClinicalTrials.gov as actively enrolling, which means new applicants who meet the eligibility criteria can be considered for screening. Trial status can change between updates — confirm current recruiting status with the study contact before traveling for a screening visit.

Target enrollment of 72 participants puts this in the typical range for a Phase 2-style efficacy study or a moderate Phase 3 trial in a focused Chronic Migraine subpopulation. At this scale, the study has enough statistical power to detect a clear treatment effect but is not the largest cohort in the field.

Who May Be Eligible (Plain English)

Who May Qualify: - Subject is willing and able to give signed willing to sign a consent form. - Male and female patients aged 25 years or older. - History of migraine for at least 12 months as diagnosed by the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-3). - Chronic migraine for at least the previous 3 months prior to screening, as diagnosed by ICHD-3. - Migraine preventative medications (including Botulinum toxin injections) are permitted if dose is stable for the 3 month period prior to randomization, and no change to dose is planned for the entire duration of the study. - Using a reliable method of contraception for females of child-bearing age. - Failure of at least 2 prior migraine preventatives, either due to lack of efficacy with an appropriate trial of the medication, or due to lack of tolerability. - Able to follow study procedures, fill out headache diaries, and complete questionnaires. - Completion of at least 90% of the headache diary during the one month baseline period. Who Should NOT Join This Trial: - Other active primary headaches, such as cluster headache, hemicrania continua, etc. - Any secondary headache, such as headache related to intracranial hypertension, intracranial hypotension, hydrocephalus, intracranial mass lesion, etc. - Pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding. - Active or significant history of major mental illness, including severe depression, or anxiety, and any history of psychosis or schizophrenia. - History of or current substance use disorder. - Regular use of cannabis for medical or recreational reasons during the previous 12 months. - History of significant cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disease, such as previous myocardial infarction, stroke, or peripheral vascular disease. - History of hypertension greater than 160/100 and not medically treated. - Any past history of seizure disorder. - Liver disease or liver enzymes two or more times the upper limit of normal at baseline. ...See full criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov Always talk to your doctor about whether this trial is right for you.

These are translations of the protocol\'s inclusion and exclusion criteria, simplified for patients and caregivers. The original clinical text appears below. Eligibility is ultimately confirmed by the trial site\'s screening process — this summary is a starting point for a conversation with your doctor, not a final determination.

Original Eligibility Criteria

View original clinical language
Inclusion Criteria: * Subject is willing and able to give signed informed consent. * Male and female patients aged 25 years or older. * History of migraine for at least 12 months as diagnosed by the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-3). * Chronic migraine for at least the previous 3 months prior to screening, as diagnosed by ICHD-3. * Migraine preventative medications (including Botulinum toxin injections) are permitted if dose is stable for the 3 month period prior to randomization, and no change to dose is planned for the entire duration of the study. * Using a reliable method of contraception for females of child-bearing age. * Failure of at least 2 prior migraine preventatives, either due to lack of efficacy with an appropriate trial of the medication, or due to lack of tolerability. * Able to follow study procedures, fill out headache diaries, and complete questionnaires. * Completion of at least 90% of the headache diary during the one month baseline period. Exclusion Criteria: * Other active primary headaches, such as cluster headache, hemicrania continua, etc. * Any secondary headache, such as headache related to intracranial hypertension, intracranial hypotension, hydrocephalus, intracranial mass lesion, etc. * Pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding. * Active or significant history of major mental illness, including severe depression, or anxiety, and any history of psychosis or schizophrenia. * History of or current substance use disorder. * Regular use of cannabis for medical or recreational reasons during the previous 12 months. * History of significant cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disease, such as previous myocardial infarction, stroke, or peripheral vascular disease. * History of hypertension greater than 160/100 and not medically treated. * Any past history of seizure disorder. * Liver disease or liver enzymes two or more times the upper limit of normal at baseline. * Severe renal disease or GFR more than 30% below expected. * Any disorder or condition leading to hypersomnolence or excessive daytime drowsiness, such as narcolepsy, excessive use of sedatives/hypnotics, etc. * Any other medical condition that in the opinion of the investigators may pose a health risk to the subject if entered into the clinical trial. * Use of interventions or devices, such as nerve blocks, sphenopalatine ganglion blocks, vagal nerve stimulators, and transcranial magnetic stimulators during the baseline period (weeks -4 to 0). These treatments will also be prohibited during the period of therapy (weeks 0 to 12). * Use of transitional therapies such as a course of steroids or a dihydroergotamine protocol during the baseline period (weeks -4 to 0). These treatments will also be prohibited during the period of therapy (weeks 0 to 12). * Overuse of triptan, dihydroergotamine, opioid, or barbiturate medications, defined as 10 or more days per month in the 3 months prior to randomization. * Overuse of simple analgesics (such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, aspirin), and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (such as naproxen, ketorolac, diclofenac, etc.) defined as 15 or more days per month in the 3 months prior to randomization.

Treatments Being Tested

DRUG

CBD 100 mg OD

CBD oil - purified to \<1% THC in soft-gel capsules

DRUG

CBD 200 mg OD

CBD oil - purified to \<1% THC in soft-gel capsules

DRUG

Placebo

Soft-gel capsules containing placebo

Locations (1)

Trial sites listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for this study. Site activation status can vary — confirm with the specific site before traveling for a screening visit.

CHAMP Research (Calgary Headache Assessment & Management Program)
Calgary, Alberta, Canada

How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial

Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT03972124), the sponsor (University of Calgary), and the key eligibility criteria — to your next appointment. Your doctor can review the inclusion and exclusion criteria against your medical history, lab values, and current treatments to assess whether you are likely to qualify. They can also help you weigh whether trial participation makes sense alongside your existing care plan.

Useful questions to walk through together: What does the trial protocol require beyond standard care? How long is the active treatment phase, and how long is follow-up? Are there study visits at sites I can reach? Who pays for the trial-specific procedures, and who pays for standard-of-care portions? See our 25 questions to ask about clinical trials guide for a more complete checklist.

Authoritative Sources

The official record for this trial lives on ClinicalTrials.gov — the federal registry maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. For background on how this trial fits into the FDA approval pathway, see the FDA drug approval process. For oncology-specific guidance for patients considering trials, the National Cancer Institute publishes patient-oriented overviews. International trial registries are aggregated by the WHO ICTRP.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NCT03972124 clinical trial studying?

This study will evaluate the efficacy and safety of cannabis for the treatment of chronic migraine headaches. Study subjects will be randomized to one of three groups: lower dose CBD, higher dose CBD or placebo. The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.

Who can participate in NCT03972124?

Eligibility for this trial depends on the specific inclusion and exclusion criteria set by the sponsor. The plain-English summary above translates the most important criteria into accessible language; the official clinical text is preserved in the collapsible section underneath. Whether you fit any specific trial is a medical decision your doctor needs to confirm — bring the trial information to your treating physician for a full review against your medical history.

How do I contact the trial site for NCT03972124?

Contact information registered with ClinicalTrials.gov is shown in the sidebar of this page. Before reaching out, confirm with your treating physician that this trial is appropriate for your situation. The trial site will then walk you through the screening process to determine final eligibility.

Is participating in a clinical trial safe?

Clinical trials in the United States are regulated by the FDA and overseen by Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) that review the protocol for safety. Risk varies by trial — Phase 1 studies test new treatments in humans for the first time, while Phase 3 trials use treatments that have already passed earlier safety screening. The informed consent document for any specific trial details the known risks and what to expect. Discuss those risks with your physician before deciding whether to participate.

Where can I verify the data on this page?

Every detail on this page comes directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API. Click "View on ClinicalTrials.gov" in the sidebar to see the official, unmodified record. The federal record is always authoritative; this page is a structured presentation with a plain-English eligibility translation. For background on how clinical trials are regulated, see the FDA drug approval process documentation.

How This Page Is Built

Every field on this page is pulled directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 — no estimates, no proxies. The plain-English eligibility translation is generated from the original protocol text and reviewed for fidelity to the underlying clinical criteria. The original clinical text remains visible in the collapsible section above so users and clinicians can verify the translation. Read the full methodology for the data pipeline and known limitations.

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 record for NCT03972124. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT03972124. Data: ClinicalTrials.gov."

Medical disclaimer: This page is informational, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

Last updated 2026-05-08 · Data from ClinicalTrials.gov.