Cinnamon Bidwell

Cinnamon Bidwell is an Associate Professor in Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of Colorado Boulder's Institute of Cognitive Science. She holds a PhD from the same institution (2010). Her research focuses on translational studies investigating drug effects on psychological/physical health, with expertise in human laboratory studies of cannabis, cannabinoids, alcohol, and nicotine. Key areas include neurobiological impacts of drugs of abuse, treatment efficacy for substance use disorders, and cannabinoid therapeutic potential.

Research emphasizes cannabinoid pharmacology, endocannabinoid system modulation, and co-occurring psychiatric conditions. She explores both acute/chronic effects of cannabis consumption across diverse populations including medical patients and psychiatric cohorts. Active projects examine cannabis's effects on inflammatory markers, sleep quality, alcohol use substitution, and anxiety symptomology.

Current studies include randomized trials of cannabidiol (CBD) for alcohol use disorder and cannabis use disorder treatment, as well as investigating biomarkers linking alcohol use and anxiety. The LOTUS trial protocol represents her commitment to evidence-based cannabinoid therapies. She also examines cannabis concentrate use patterns and associated health outcomes, including cognitive impairment and withdrawal effects.

• Notable contributions: Developed CUDIT-C screening tool, validated cannabis use biomarkers, pioneered ad libitum laboratory paradigms
• Labs/Teams: Directs the CU Change Lab focused on cannabis research
• Future work: Expanding into multi-omic analyses of substance use comorbidities and advancing equity in cannabis research