ABSTRACT
Continuing basic research is likely to yield results that could gready enhance the therapeutic potential of cannabinoids. Such developments could lead to the synthesis of drugs with more specific actions than Tetrahydrocannabinol or nabilone or cannabis itself e.g. cannabinoids with anti-emetic, analgesic or anticonvulsant effects without psychotropic or cardiovascular effects. Anandamides have not yet been tested in humans; it is possible that some of these might have specific actions on subtypes of cannabinoid receptors. While cannabinoids penetrate the central nervous system, there are receptors present and some of the effects are clearly central, it is possible that some of the suspected therapeutic actions could be caused by action on peripheral tissue. These possible peripheral effects include vasodilatation, dry mouth, nausea relief, bronchodilatation, bladder effects and decrease of intraocular pressure. Meanwhile there is ample scope for further research on cannabinoids that have already been used in clinical trials.
