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Updated: Jun 16, 2026

Intracranial Pharmacotherapy and Pain Assays in Rodents
Published on: April 9, 2019
Therapeutic activation of the endocannabinoid system for opioid use disorder, chronic pain, and cancer-related pain:
Oluseun Dairo1, Jocelyn A Mitchell-Williams1, Ping Zhang1
1Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, NJ, USA.
Introduction:
Opioid use disorder (OUD) and chronic pain are major global health challenges. Although opioid therapies provide effective analgesia, long-term use is limited by safety concerns, dependence, and variable efficacy. Modulation of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) has emerged as a potential therapeutic strategy for pain management and opioid-related disorders.
Areas Covered:
This narrative review summarizes evidence on ECS-targeted interventions for OUD, chronic non-cancer pain, and cancer-related pain. Relevant literature was identified through PubMed using terms related to the ECS, cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2), phytocannabinoids (Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol [THC] and cannabidiol [CBD]), synthetic cannabinoids, fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) and monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) inhibitors, and opioid-cannabinoid interactions. Emphasis is placed on interactions between ECS and opioid signaling pathways and findings from preclinical and clinical studies evaluating efficacy and safety.
Expert Opinion:
This narrative review summarizes evidence on ECS-targeted interventions for OUD, chronic non-cancer pain, and cancer-related pain. Relevant literature was identified through PubMed using terms related to the ECS, cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2), phytocannabinoids (Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol [THC] and cannabidiol [CBD]), synthetic cannabinoids, fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) and monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) inhibitors, and opioid-cannabinoid interactions. Emphasis is placed on interactions between ECS and opioid signaling pathways and findings from preclinical and clinical studies evaluating efficacy and safety.
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