The search for medications to treat cannabis dependence
As of 2011, buspirone was the only medication showing efficacy for cannabis dependence in a controlled trial, with dronabinol, entacapone, and lithium warranting further study.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
This review surveyed the landscape of pharmacological treatments for cannabis dependence, a condition with rising treatment admissions but no approved medications. Three categories of medications had been studied: those targeting withdrawal symptoms, those acting on cannabinoid receptors, and those with efficacy for other addictions or psychiatric conditions.
Buspirone, an anti-anxiety medication, was the only drug that had shown efficacy in a controlled clinical trial. Dronabinol (oral THC), the COMT inhibitor entacapone, and lithium showed promise in smaller studies or laboratory settings.
Preclinical research suggested newer targets including FAAH inhibitors like URB597, endocannabinoid-metabolizing enzymes, and nicotinic alpha-7 receptor antagonists, but none had reached clinical trials.
Key Numbers
Buspirone: only medication with controlled trial efficacy. Dronabinol, entacapone, lithium: promising in smaller studies. No medications approved by any national regulatory authority for cannabis dependence.
How They Did This
Narrative review of clinical trials, human laboratory studies, open-label trials, and preclinical research on medications for cannabis dependence. Covered both published and emerging data.
Why This Research Matters
The majority of people entering treatment for cannabis dependence struggled to achieve and maintain abstinence. Without effective medications, treatment relied entirely on behavioral interventions, which have limited success rates for substance use disorders.
The Bigger Picture
The lack of approved medications for cannabis dependence stood in contrast to treatment options for alcohol, opioid, and nicotine dependence. This gap became more pressing as cannabis potency increased and more people sought treatment.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Narrative review without systematic search methodology. The field was young with mostly small studies. Many promising preclinical findings had not yet been tested in humans.
Questions This Raises
- ?Would buspirone hold up in larger trials?
- ?Could FAAH inhibitors transition safely from animal models to human treatment?
- ?Is combination therapy more effective than single medications?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Zero medications were approved for cannabis dependence
- Evidence Grade:
- Narrative review of a sparse literature. Reflects the state of knowledge accurately but draws from mostly small or preliminary studies.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2011. Research on medications for cannabis use disorder has expanded since, though no universally effective medication has emerged.
- Original Title:
- Pharmacological treatment of cannabis dependence.
- Published In:
- Current pharmaceutical design, 17(14), 1351-8 (2011)
- Authors:
- Weinstein, A M(2), Gorelick, David A(13)
- Database ID:
- RTHC-00532
Evidence Hierarchy
Summarizes existing research on a topic.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a medication to help quit cannabis?
As of this review, no medication was officially approved for cannabis dependence. Buspirone showed the most promise in controlled trials. Since 2011, research has continued but no breakthrough medication has been approved.
Does oral THC help with cannabis dependence?
Dronabinol (oral THC) showed some promise as a replacement therapy, similar to how nicotine patches help with cigarette cessation. The idea is to provide controlled THC to reduce withdrawal while gradually tapering, but evidence was limited.
Read More on RethinkTHC
- 30-days-without-weed
- 420-sober-survival-guide
- 6-months-sober-weed-what-to-expect
- 90-days-no-weed
- CBT-cannabis-recovery
- benefits-of-quitting-weed
- boredom-after-quitting-weed
- boredom-after-quitting-weed-nothing-fun
- cannabis-dependence-physical-psychological-addiction-science
- cannabis-perception-vs-evidence-gap
- cannabis-relapse-cycle-pattern
- cannabis-use-disorder-test
- cold-turkey-vs-taper-quit-weed
- creativity-without-weed-quitting-artist-musician
- cross-addiction-quit-weed-start-drinking
- dating-sober-after-quitting-weed
- exercise-quitting-weed-anxiety-brain
- grieving-quitting-weed-loss
- help-someone-quit-weed
- hobbies-after-quitting-weed
- how-to-quit-weed
- identity-after-quitting-weed
- is-weed-addictive
- is-weed-addictive-science
- journaling-weed-withdrawal
- leaving-stoner-culture-identity
- marijuana-anonymous-SMART-recovery-compare
- meditation-mindfulness-weed-withdrawal
- money-saved-quitting-weed-calculator
- one-year-sober-weed
- partner-still-smokes-weed
- partner-still-smokes-weed-quitting
- pink-cloud-sobriety-cannabis
- quit-weed-cold-turkey
- quit-weed-or-cut-back-which-is-better
- quit-weed-regret-went-back
- quitting-weed-20s
- quitting-weed-30s
- quitting-weed-after-years
- quitting-weed-and-alcohol
- quitting-weed-creativity
- quitting-weed-during-crisis-divorce-job-loss
- quitting-weed-exercise
- quitting-weed-face-changes-skin
- quitting-weed-grief-loss-coping
- quitting-weed-legal-state
- quitting-weed-success-stories
- quitting-weed-triggers-environment
- quitting-weed-weight-loss-gain
- rehab-for-weed-addiction-necessary
- relapsed-smoking-weed-what-to-do
- relapsed-weed
- should-i-quit-weed
- signs-of-cannabis-use-disorder
- sober-music-festival-concert-without-weed
- supplements-weed-withdrawal
- telling-friends-quitting-weed
- weed-relapse-prevention-plan
- weed-relapse-why-it-happens
- weed-ritual-replacement
- weed-ruined-relationships
- weed-social-media-triggers-quit
- weed-vape-pen-addiction
- best-apps-quitting-weed-review
- best-apps-quit-weed-2026
- best-books-quitting-weed-cannabis-recovery
- quitting-weed-journal-prompts-guided
- support-groups-quit-weed
- night-sweats-after-quitting-weed
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-00532APA
Weinstein, A M; Gorelick, David A. (2011). Pharmacological treatment of cannabis dependence.. Current pharmaceutical design, 17(14), 1351-8.
MLA
Weinstein, A M, et al. "Pharmacological treatment of cannabis dependence.." Current pharmaceutical design, 2011.
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Pharmacological treatment of cannabis dependence." RTHC-00532. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/weinstein-2011-pharmacological-treatment-of-cannabis
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.