Abstract
Synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRAs) are a large and growing class of new psychoactive substances. Unregulated consumption of SCRAs is increasingly being associated with severe toxicity and death. Strikingly, little is currently known about the mechanism by which SCRAs exert toxic effects, or whether their activity at both cannabinoid and noncannabinoid targets explain the range of physiological effects produced by these drugs. This chapter will summarize the current paradigm of SCRA signaling across a range of G-protein-coupled receptors, and the possibility of SCRA-related toxic effects emerging through noncannabinoid receptor mechanisms will be discussed. However, a great deal of research is required to determine whether these molecular effects also contribute to SCRA toxicity in humans.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | Cannabis use, neurobiology, psychology, and treatment |
Editors | Colin R. Martin, Vinood B. Patel, Victor R. Preedy |
Place of Publication | United Kingdom |
Publisher | Elsevier |
Chapter | 28 |
Pages | 383-393 |
Number of pages | 11 |
ISBN (Electronic) | 9780323898621 |
ISBN (Print) | 9780323901406 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Jan 2023 |
Keywords
- Cannabinoid receptor
- G-protein-coupled receptor
- Pharmacology
- Signaling
- Synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonist
- THC
- Toxicity