Despite increasing cannabis use disorder prevalence, developing medications has been hampered by difficulty creating animal models and disagreement about whether treatment should aim for abstinence or reduced use.
Addiction researchers, psychiatrists treating CUD, pharmaceutical developers, and patients seeking cannabis addiction treatment
What the researchers found
The translational pipeline from preclinical to clinical CUD pharmacotherapy is hindered by challenges in establishing robust animal self-administration models and fundamental questions about efficacy endpoints (abstinence vs. reduction in use).
Why it matters
Cannabis use disorder affects millions but has zero FDA-approved treatments — understanding why the pipeline is stuck is essential for breaking through to effective medications.
The numbers in context
No FDA-approved medications for CUD; research lags compared to other substance use disorders; key challenge: animal models of cannabinoid self-administration remain difficult to establish.
How the study worked
Comprehensive review evaluating the translational pipeline for cannabis use disorder medications, from preclinical models through human laboratory studies to randomized controlled clinical trials.
What this study cannot tell us
Review scope focused on pharmacotherapy; doesn't address behavioral or combined approaches; rapidly evolving field means some recent developments may not be captured.
How to read the evidence
Authoritative review from leading CUD researchers published in a top behavioral neuroscience series, comprehensively covering the translational pipeline.
When this study was published
Published in 2026, providing the most current assessment of CUD pharmacotherapy development challenges.
The bigger picture
The fundamental debate about treatment goals — complete abstinence vs. harm reduction through reduced use — shapes not just clinical practice but which drug candidates advance through trials.
Questions still open
- Could adaptive trial designs that accept reduced use as an endpoint accelerate CUD medication development? What preclinical model innovations could improve translational validity?
Common questions
Is there medication for cannabis addiction?
Why is it so hard to develop cannabis addiction treatments?
Read the original research
Pharmacotherapy for Cannabis Use Disorder: Preclinical and Clinical Models.
Current topics in behavioral neurosciences, 76, 249-296
Citation
Bedillion, Margaret F; Moore, Catherine F; Weerts, Elise M; Arout, Caroline A; Harris, Hannah M; Haney, Margaret. (2026). Pharmacotherapy for Cannabis Use Disorder: Preclinical and Clinical Models.. Current topics in behavioral neurosciences, 76, 249-296. https://doi.org/10.1007/7854_2025_598
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