Science signals a new understanding of marihuana

Some recent scientific advances in the study of the cannabinoids are outlined. The mode of action of marihuana and the cannabinoids has now been described. They belong to a new class of drug that acts on a hitherto undescribed neuro-physiological system. An endogenous neurotransmitter or neuromodulator for this system has been isolated, identified and named “anandamide”. These findings throw new light and imbue new confidence for the future of the therapeutic application of compounds derived from and related to the cannabinoids and anandamide. An outline is also provided of the current knowledge and future potential of cannabinoids in therapeutics. The effect of the current legal classification of the cannabinoids on the research and development of these compounds is discussed.