Medical cannabis vs. synthetic cannabinoids: What does the future hold?

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology
• Neuroscience
• Medical History

Background:

• Cannabis has been used medicinally since ancient China (∼2700 BC).
• The identification of Δ(9) -tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ(9) -THC) in 1964 was a pivotal moment.
• This discovery facilitated the creation of synthetic analogs and the identification of cannabinoid receptors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the historical context of cannabis in medicine.
• To highlight key breakthroughs in understanding the cannabinoid system.
• To underscore the current limitations in cannabinoid-targeted therapeutics.

Main Methods:

• Historical literature review.
• Analysis of key scientific discoveries related to cannabis and cannabinoids.
• Assessment of current drug development in the cannabinoid system.

Main Results:

• The medical use of cannabis dates back millennia.
• The discovery of Δ(9) -THC led to significant advancements in cannabinoid science.
• Despite scientific progress, there is a notable lack of drugs targeting the cannabinoid system.

Conclusions:

• The cannabinoid system has a rich therapeutic history.
• Key discoveries have advanced our understanding of cannabinoids.
• Further drug development is needed to fully leverage the therapeutic potential of the cannabinoid system.