Regulation of synthetic cannabinoids

Other clinical uses of cannabis and its derivatives are described in the British Medical Association book Therapeutic Uses of Cannabis.3 There is increasing interest in the exploration of the therapeutic possibilities offered by the endocannabinoid system-a widespread modulator of neuronal activity-in mood disorders, multiple sclerosis, and neuropathic pain management.4 Our concern is that reclassification of synthetic cannabinoids in schedule 1 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations could hamper research in this area. Laboratory and retrospective cross-sectional studies might eventually be published, but, as with recent studies of tetrahydrocannabinol, 5 for example, they tell us little about use in naturalistic contexts or the contemporaneous public health consequences of use.