A New Dawn in Cannabinoid Neurobiology: The Road from Molecules to Therapeutic Discoveries

There is likely no greater hot-button topic in biomedical and clinical research today than discussions surrounding the utility of active chemicals found in marijuana and how they interact within the body's endocannabinoid system to elicit beneficial or deleterious effects. Although the chemical isolation of the two most widely studied phytocannabinoids (delta-9-THC and cannabidiol) occurred in the 1960s, there is a renewed need for more mechanistic understanding on how these lipid molecules impact neuronal functions in the brain. In this meeting, we will provide a recent view of endocannabinoid signaling as it pertains to a number of neurobiological processes.

This Gordon Research Conference on "Cannabinoid Function in the CNS" will explore topics including the neurochemical control of learning and memory, reward, motor activity and pain as well as the regulatory role of cannabinoids in feeding behavior and energy balance. We will also explore the impact of cannabinoids on neuronal development and survival as well as on glial cells. Speakers will also comment on the control by cannabinoid receptors of neural circuits involved in a number of neurological and psychiatry conditions ranging from addiction and anxiety to epilepsy and Huntington's disease amongst others. The implications of the widespread recreational use of marijuana as well as its prescription will also be discussed. Our goal is to stimulate a collegial and informal atmosphere that generates fruitful discussions and exchanges of ideas among established leaders of the field, younger scientists and newcomers.