Pharma’s Great Green Rush
Cannabinoids – naturally found in cannabis – and the human endocannabinoid system are proving to be an intriguing target for drug discovery. But what is the real value of this ancient medicine?
“It is beyond my comprehension that any humane person would withhold such a beneficial substance from people in such great need simply because others use it for different purposes.”
– Steven Gould, American sci-fi author
Cannabis leads a double life. On one hand, it is a recreational drug, the regular use of which has been linked with lower fertility (1), increased risk of psychotic illness (2), and, for heavy adolescent users, impaired intellectual development (3). On the other hand – looking beyond the smoke and the stoners – it has been used medically for thousands of years. Cannabis is one of the 50 fundamental herbs in traditional Chinese medicine, and its use has been traced to ancient Egypt, India, and Greece, among others.
Countries began banning the sale and use of cannabis in the 1900s because of its psychotropic properties but, in recent years, there have been calls to ease regulations as scientific studies delve deeper into the plant and its many chemical compounds – cannabinoids in particular. A big breakthrough in the field was the discovery of the human endocannabinoid system in the 1990s. The endocannabinoid system – in essence, the body’s own cannabinoid system – is believed to be associated with a number of physiological processes, affecting memory, mood, sleep and stress (4). Cannabinoids act directly on the endocannabinoid system, which instantly makes cannabis very intriguing from a drug discovery point of view, especially now that we have a greater understanding of which cannabinoids are responsible for the euphoric high associated with recreational cannabis use and which cannabinoids may offer other health benefits. Some countries have now legalized cannabis for limited medical uses, and academics and commercial companies alike are rushing to uncover the plant’s true therapeutic potential – and value.
Cannabis and cannabinoids (both synthetic and botanical) are being investigated for a variety of indications including pain, Alzheimer’s, cancer, glaucoma, epileptic seizures, diabetes, and mental health, and a small number of medicines, mainly based on synthetic cannabinoids, have already reached the market.
We speak to experts in cannabinoid drug development to take stock of this rapidly growing field.
A Career in Cannabinoids
Cannabis Complex
Smashing the Stigma with Science
A View From the Biosynthetic Bridge
Forming a Society for Cannabinoids
Enhancing Endocannabinoid Signalling
- SS du Plessis, A Agarwal, A Syriac, “Marijuana, phytocannabinoids, the endocannabinoid system, and male fertility,” J. Assist Reprod. Genet., 32, 1575-1588 (2015).
- A Macorni et al., “Meta-analysis of the Association Between the Level of Cannabis Use and Risk of Psychosis”, Schizophr Bull, 42: 1262-9 (2016). PMID: 26884547.
- LM Squeglia, J Jacobus, SF Tapert, “The Influence of Substance Use on Adolescent Brain Development,” Clin. EEG Neurosci., 40, 31-38 (2009).
- U Pegatto et al., “The Emerging Role of the Endocannabinoid System in Endocrine Regulation and Energy Balance,” Endocrine Reviews, 27, 73-100 (2006). PMID: 16306385
Making great scientific magazines isn’t just about delivering knowledge and high quality content; it’s also about packaging these in the right words to ensure that someone is truly inspired by a topic. My passion is ensuring that our authors’ expertise is presented as a seamless and enjoyable reading experience, whether in print, in digital or on social media. I’ve spent fourteen years writing and editing features for scientific and manufacturing publications, and in making this content engaging and accessible without sacrificing its scientific integrity. There is nothing better than a magazine with great content that feels great to read.
Over the course of my Biomedical Sciences degree it dawned on me that my goal of becoming a scientist didn’t quite mesh with my lack of affinity for lab work. Thinking on my decision to pursue biology rather than English at age 15 – despite an aptitude for the latter – I realized that science writing was a way to combine what I loved with what I was good at.
From there I set out to gather as much freelancing experience as I could, spending 2 years developing scientific content for International Innovation, before completing an MSc in Science Communication. After gaining invaluable experience in supporting the communications efforts of CERN and IN-PART, I joined Texere – where I am focused on producing consistently engaging, cutting-edge and innovative content for our specialist audiences around the world.
