Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics, Brain and Mind Centre , The University of Sydney , Sydney , NSW 2050 , Australia.
Faculty of Science and School of Chemistry , The University of Sydney , Sydney , NSW 2006 , Australia.
ACS Chem Neurosci. 2019 May 15;10(5):2160-2175. doi: 10.1021/acschemneuro.8b00651. Epub 2019 Feb 22.
Cannabis ( Cannabis sativa) is the most widely used illicit drug in the world, with an estimated 192 million users globally. The main psychoactive component of cannabis is (-)- trans-Δ-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ-THC), a compound with a diverse range of pharmacological actions. The unique and distinctive intoxication caused by Δ-THC primarily reflects partial agonist action at central cannabinoid type 1 (CB) receptors. Δ-THC is an approved therapeutic treatment for a range of conditions, including chronic pain, chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, and multiple sclerosis, and is being investigated in indications such as anorexia nervosa, agitation in dementia, and Tourette's syndrome. It is available as a regulated pharmaceutical in products such as Marinol, Sativex, and Namisol as well as in an ever-increasing range of unregistered medicinal and recreational cannabis products. While cannabis is an ancient medicament, contemporary use is embroiled in legal, scientific, and social controversy, much of which relates to the potential hazards and benefits of Δ-THC itself. Robust contemporary debate surrounds the therapeutic value of Δ-THC in different diseases, its capacity to produce psychosis and cognitive impairment, and the addictive and "gateway" potential of the drug. This review will provide a profile of the chemistry, pharmacology, and therapeutic uses of Δ-THC as well as the historical and societal import of this unique, distinctive, and ubiquitous psychoactive substance.
大麻（Cannabis sativa）是世界上使用最广泛的非法药物，全球估计有 1.92 亿使用者。大麻的主要精神活性成分是（-）-反式-Δ-四氢大麻酚（Δ-THC），这是一种具有广泛药理学作用的化合物。Δ-THC 引起的独特和独特的陶醉主要反映了其在中枢大麻素 1 型（CB1）受体上的部分激动剂作用。Δ-THC 已被批准用于治疗多种疾病，包括慢性疼痛、化疗引起的恶心和呕吐以及多发性硬化症，并且正在厌食症、痴呆症激越和图雷特氏综合征等适应症中进行研究。它作为一种受管制的药物，以 Marinol、Sativex 和 Namisol 等产品以及越来越多未经注册的药用和娱乐性大麻产品的形式出现。虽然大麻是一种古老的药物，但现代使用却陷入了法律、科学和社会争议之中，其中大部分与 Δ-THC 本身的潜在危害和益处有关。围绕 Δ-THC 在不同疾病中的治疗价值、它产生精神病和认知障碍的能力以及该药物的成瘾性和“门户”潜力，展开了激烈的当代辩论。本文将介绍 Δ-THC 的化学、药理学和治疗用途，以及这种独特、独特和无处不在的精神活性物质的历史和社会重要性。
