Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research

The endocannabinoid system is a signaling network built around two primary receptor types, CB1 and CB2, that regulate processes ranging from synaptic transmission and mood to metabolism and immune response. Researchers study how cannabis and its active compounds interact with these receptors to understand both the health consequences of cannabis use and the potential for cannabinoid-based treatments in conditions such as epilepsy, chronic pain, and anxiety disorders. A central tension in the pharmacology is that the same receptor pathways implicated in therapeutic effects also underlie psychiatric risks, including psychosis-related outcomes associated with prolonged cannabis exposure. Active work is focused on developing compounds that can engage the endocannabinoid system selectively enough to capture clinical benefits while minimizing unwanted effects on cognition and mental health.

Works

94,345

Total citations

2,125,288

Keywords

Endocannabinoid SystemCannabinoid ReceptorsCannabis UseNeurological DisordersPsychiatric EffectsMetabolic Disorders