Preclinical science regarding cannabinoids as analgesics: An overview Modern pharmacology of cannabinoids began in 1964 with the isolation and partial synthesis of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, the main psycho-active agent in herbal cannabis. Since then, positive effects of cannabinoid agonists in animals; the presence of cannabinoid receptors in pain-processing areas of the brain, spinal cord, and periphery; and evidence supporting endogenous modulation of pain systems by cannabinoids have suggested that this class of medications exhibit significant potential as pain relievers. This article presents an overview of the preclinical science. Lynch ME. Adapted from Pain Res Manag. 2005 Autumn;10 Suppl A:7A-14A. Read more: PMID 16237476 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16237476&query_hl=2 Credit: PubMed, developed by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) at the National Library of Medicine (NLM). BACK

Department of Pain Medicine and Palliative Care ©2005 Continuum Health Partners, Inc. www.StopPain.org/pcd