Therapeutic potential of endocannabinoid system activation in opioid use disorder and pain.

Authors

Oluseun Dairo, Jocelyn A Mitchell-Williams, Ping Zhang

Published in

Expert opinion on therapeutic targets. Jun 15, 2026. Epub Jun 15, 2026.

Abstract

Opioid use disorder (OUD) and chronic pain remain major global health challenges. Although opioid-based therapies provide effective analgesia, their long-term use is limited by safety concerns, dependence, and variable efficacy. Modulation of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy for pain management and opioid-related disorders.
This narrative review summarizes current evidence on ECS-targeted interventions for OUD, chronic non-cancer pain, and cancer-related pain. Relevant literature was identified through PubMed using search terms related to the ECS, cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2), phytocannabinoids (Δ⁹ -tetrahydrocannabinol [THC] and cannabidiol [CBD]), synthetic cannabinoids, fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) and monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) inhibitors, and opioid - cannabinoid interactions. Particular emphasis is placed on mechanistic interactions between ECS and opioid signaling pathways, as well as evidence from preclinical and clinical studies evaluating therapeutic efficacy and safety.
ECS modulation may alleviate pain, reduce opioid withdrawal symptoms, and improve affective outcomes. Interactions between cannabinoid and opioid receptors may produce synergistic analgesic effects while potentially mitigating opioid tolerance and dependence. However, clinical translation remains limited by small sample sizes, heterogeneous study populations, and variability in trial design. Well-controlled clinical trials are needed to establish optimal dosing strategies, evaluate long-term safety, and clarify the therapeutic role of ECS-targeted interventions in OUD and pain management.

PMID:
42295097
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 15 Jun 2026.

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