A brief history of the therapeutic uses and legal problems of cannabis as well as
the component cannabinoids is given. This is followed by a discussion of drug development
from Δ1-tetrahydrocannabinol and its synthetic analogues. The controversy of whether the
pharmacological effects are of central or peripheral origin is included. Then, the
potentials for the development of new drugs based on the cannabinoid structure for
the treatment of pain, inflammation, and related conditions are outlined. It is concluded
that the central activity of cannabinoids is confirmed and that the presence of a
C-5 hydroxy group confers potent peripheral activity.
Cannabis -
Cannabis sativa
- drug development - hallucinogenic activity - central effects - peripheral effects
- structure-activity relationships
