Abstract

The Gordon Research Seminar on Cannabinoid Function in the CNS is a unique forum for graduate students, post-docs, and other scientists with comparable levels of experience and education to present and exchange new data and cutting edge ideas. This edition of the GRS on Cannabinoid Function in the CNS will focus on plant-derived cannabinoids. Cannabis contains hundreds of chemical constituents, amongst them more than 80 of which are designated as cannabinoids. Despite the widespread use of cannabis for medicinal and recreational purposes, little is currently known about the mechanisms by which these many molecules function in the CNS, as well as their interactions with the endogenous cannabinoid system and molecules. As cannabis use continues to increase worldwide, it is paramount that a better understanding and characterization of these functions is pursued. To that end, the major objective of the 2019 "Cannabinoid Function in the CNS" Gordon Research Seminar is to highlight, through stimulating discussion and the presentation of unpublished data, the efforts underway to address these unknowns. What are the relevant, active compounds present in cannabis? How do these compounds interact with their many targets and to what end? What are their potential pharmacotherapeutic destinations and what role do they play in recreational abuse? How can understanding this biology better inform policy?