Pharmacotherapy for Cannabis Use Disorder: Preclinical and Clinical Models

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Pharmacology
• Addiction Medicine

Background:

• Cannabis use disorder (CUD) is a growing public health concern with no FDA-approved pharmacotherapies.
• Research into CUD treatments is hindered by limitations in preclinical models for cannabinoid self-administration.
• Existing substance use disorder (SUD) research has advanced more rapidly than CUD pharmacotherapy development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the translational pipeline for cannabis use disorder (CUD) pharmacotherapies.
• To review medication effects across preclinical, human laboratory, and clinical trial models.
• To identify challenges in translating findings and suggest future research directions for CUD treatment.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of preclinical models of cannabinoid self-administration.
• Analysis of human laboratory studies investigating CUD.
• Evaluation of randomized controlled clinical trials for CUD pharmacotherapies.
• Assessment of efficacy endpoints, including prolonged abstinence and reduction in use.

Main Results:

• Preclinical models of cannabinoid self-administration present significant translational challenges.
• Human laboratory studies provide valuable insights but require careful interpretation.
• Clinical trials face difficulties in defining and measuring successful treatment outcomes for CUD.
• Translating findings from early-stage research to clinical efficacy remains a key hurdle.

Conclusions:

• Improving the translational validity of preclinical and human laboratory models is crucial for CUD pharmacotherapy development.
• Standardizing efficacy endpoints in clinical trials will enhance the evaluation of potential CUD treatments.
• Future research should focus on optimizing therapeutic development strategies for cannabis use disorder.